Leprosy is an infectious disease and, simultaneously, a nutrient deficiency disease. The role of nutrition is very important in leprosy management.
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, primarily affecting the skin, peripheral nerves, and mucous membranes. It is curable, and early treatment can prevent disabilities. While not highly contagious, leprosy is transmitted through respiratory droplets from untreated individuals, requiring prolonged close contact. Symptoms can appear within a year of infection but may take up to 20 years to develop, often manifesting as skin lesions and nerve involvement
In this article, I am reviewing the role of several vitamins and minerals in the management of leprosy. Several references that discuss leprosy and nutrition are listed here.
Causes and Transmission:
Bacterium:
Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a bacterium that thrives in cooler parts of the body.
Transmission:
The disease is thought to be transmitted through respiratory droplets (coughing, sneezing) from untreated individuals.
Incubation:
Symptoms can develop within one year of infection, but the incubation period can range from months to decades.
Not Highly Contagious:
Leprosy is not easily spread, and most people’s immune systems can fight off the bacteria.
Symptoms:
Skin lesions: Patches of skin that are lighter or darker than normal skin, with decreased sensation.
Nerve involvement: Muscle weakness, numbness, and loss of sensation in extremities.
Other symptoms: Enlarged nerves, paralysis, vision problems, and loss of eyebrows/eyelashes.
Types of Leprosy:
Tuberculoid: Mild form, often with a few skin lesions.
Lepromatous: More severe form, with multiple skin lesions and nerve involvement.
Borderline: Symptoms of both tuberculoid and lepromatous forms.
Treatment:
Multidrug therapy: Treatment involves a combination of antibiotics, typically dapsone, rifampin, and clofazimine.
Early treatment: Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent disabilities.
Complications:
Blindness: Eye damage and vision loss can occur.
Deformities: Muscle weakness and nerve damage can lead to deformities in hands and feet.
Other complications: Hair loss, infertility, kidney failure, and permanent nasal damage.
References
1.0
VITAMIN A AND LIPID PEROXIDATION IN PATIENTS WITH DIFFERENT FORMS OF LEPROSY. https://www.scielo.br/j/rimtsp/a/hHbySNFyH7ybzNNXdhgMb4R/?lang=en&format=pdf
This article discusses a study that investigated the connection between vitamin A levels and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in individuals with leprosy. The research revealed that patients suffering from leprosy exhibited reduced serum vitamin A levels and elevated levels of lipid peroxidation when compared to healthy controls. Notably, the increase in LPO progressed and was more severe in advanced forms of leprosy, whereas vitamin A levels were significantly lower, particularly in the lepromatous type of the disease. The findings suggest that LPO might play a crucial role in Mycobacterium leprae infection, and assessing the balance of oxidants and antioxidants could be valuable for both the treatment and prognosis of leprosy.
2.0
The Role of Vitamins, Minerals, and Nutrition in Leprosy Patients: A Review : https://jurnal.globalhealthsciencegroup.com/index.php/IJGHR/article/view/4720
The article reviews the significant role of vitamins, minerals, and overall nutrition in leprosy patients. It highlights that leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, often leads to physical, social, and economic issues, frequently resulting in malnutrition. The review suggests that lower antioxidant levels in these patients can increase oxidative stress and lead to complications. Therefore, maintaining balanced nutrient concentrations is essential for enhancing the immune system’s ability to respond to pathogens, given the regulatory impact of these nutrients on both innate and adaptive immune responses.
The article broadly discusses the role of vitamins and minerals in leprosy patients, emphasizing that maintaining a balance in nutrient concentrations is important for improving the immune response to pathogens. While it highlights that decreased antioxidant levels can lead to increased oxidative stress and complications in leprosy, it does not specifically name individual vitamins and minerals or detail their specific roles. Instead, it discusses “nutrients” in a general sense within the context of immune response and oxidative stress.
3.0
Vitamin A, C, D, E and B12 levels in leprosy: A case control study
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338185202_Vitamin_A_C_D_E_and_B12_levels_in_leprosy_A_case_control_study
This article highlights the significant connection between nutritional status, particularly vitamin levels, and leprosy. Research indicates that individuals with leprosy frequently exhibit deficiencies in vitamins A, C, D, E, and B12, which are believed to influence the progression and severity of the disease. The text suggests that supplementing with these vitamins, alongside minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and selenium, can boost antioxidant activity, fortify the immune system, and ultimately reduce morbidity among leprosy patients. Furthermore, the article notes that specific dietary changes have demonstrated potential in alleviating symptoms and enhancing the quality of life for those suffering from peripheral neuropathic pain, a common complication associated with leprosy.
4.0
Leprosy: Vitamin B₁ Deficiency and Rat Leprosy. L. F. Badger, E. Masunaga and D. Wolf / https://www.jstor.org/stable/4583318
5.0
Deficiency of vitamin-B2.
https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/19341402781
This article details a study focused on vitamin B2 deficiency in leprosy patients. The research found that individuals with leprosy often had a significant deficiency in the vitamin B complex, especially vitamin B2, alongside low protein intake. When treated with a vitamin B concentrate from yeast, patients with anaesthetic skin patches showed considerable improvement, though those with the nodular form of leprosy did not experience the same benefit. The study implies that a deficiency in vitamin B2 could be an important factor in the onset and progression of leprosy.
6.0
Association of Vitamin D Receptor Genotype with Leprosy Type
This article from The Journal of Infectious Diseases examines the link between an individual’s Vitamin D Receptor Genotype and the type of leprosy they develop. The study identifies specific genetic variations within the vitamin D receptor that are associated with a predisposition to certain clinical forms of leprosy. The research underscores the significant role of genetic factors in determining how leprosy manifests clinically and offers insights into the intricate relationship between human genetics and infectious diseases.
7.0
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEPROSY ^ Volume 52, Number 2_Printed in the U.S.A. A Study of Blood Ascorbic Acid in Leprosy’ / http://ila.ilsl.br/pdfs/v52n2a05.pdf
This study investigated blood ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) levels in leprosy patients and the impact of supplementation on trophic ulcer healing. It found that both lepromatous and tuberculoid leprosy patients had significantly reduced blood ascorbic acid levels compared to healthy individuals, with dapsone therapy not affecting these levels. However, supplementing with ascorbic acid improved the healing of trophic ulcers and normalized elevated blood lactic and pyruvic acid levels in leprosy patients. The research suggests that incorporating ascorbic acid supplementation with dapsone therapy could be beneficial for leprosy patients, especially in managing trophic ulcers.
9.0
VITAMIN B IN LEPROSY / https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(00)82502-7/fulltext
The provided link leads to a 1938 article in The Lancet titled “VITAMIN B IN LEPROSY.” This article, published on July 23, 1938, explores the role of vitamin B in the treatment of leprosy. The article discusses the therapeutic effects of vitamin B, specifically referring to it as “vitamin B” without specifying a particular type. While the full text of the article is not accessible publicly, it is implied that the study examined the potential of vitamin B in alleviating leprosy symptoms and improving patient outcomes
10
Vitamin A, C, D, E and B12 levels in leprosy: A case control study / https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022510X19317381
This article details a case-control study that investigated the levels of vitamins A, C, D, E, and B12 in 60 newly diagnosed leprosy patients compared to 28 healthy control subjects. The study utilized an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure vitamin levels and found that all tested vitamins were significantly lower in leprosy patients than in the control group. Interestingly, paucibacillary leprosy cases exhibited notably higher levels of all these vitamins than multibacillary cases. The authors concluded that while leprosy patients generally have lower serum levels of vitamins A, E, C, D, and B12 compared to healthy individuals, further in-depth studies are necessary.
11.0
A review of nutrition in neuropathic pain of leprosy / https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9168857/
This article reviews the critical role of nutrition in managing peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP) associated with leprosy, a neglected tropical disease. It emphasizes that while effective leprosy treatments exist, socioeconomic factors and nutritional deficiencies can exacerbate the disease. The review highlights that dietary interventions and nutrient supplementation can help reduce oxidative stress, bolster the immune system, and alleviate PNP symptoms. It also discusses the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of PNP, advocating for a holistic approach that integrates non-pharmacological management and addresses the psychosocial challenges of the condition. Ultimately, the article calls for more research to explore the link between nutrition and leprosy to develop non-pharmacological therapies for leprous PNP.
12.0
Mycobacterium leprae-helminth co-infections and vitamin D deficiency as potential risk factors for leprosy: A case-control study in south-eastern Brazil / https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33592342/
This article summarizes a case-control study conducted in south-eastern Brazil from 2016 to 2018, which aimed to investigate the links between helminth co-infection, specific micronutrient deficiencies, and leprosy. The study involved three groups: leprosy cases, their household contacts, and community-matched controls. Findings indicated that leprosy patients were more likely to have helminth infections and vitamin D deficiency compared to the control groups. The research suggests that the immunological effects of schistosomiasis (a type of helminth infection) and vitamin D deficiency may contribute to an increased risk of developing active leprosy.
14.0
Micronutrients influencing the immune response in leprosy / https://scielo.isciii.es/pdf/nh/v29n1/05revision3.pdf
15.0
https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.72.1861.xii.s
16.0
Vitamin A, C, D, E and B12 levels in leprosy: A case control study / https://www.jns-journal.com/article/S0022-510X(19)31738-1/fulltext
17.0
Dietary diversity and poverty as risk factors for leprosy in Indonesia: A case-control study / https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0006317
18.0
Vitamin A, C, D, E and B12 Levels in Leprosy: A Case Control Study / https://www.leprosy-information.org/resource/vitamin-c-d-e-and-b12-levels-leprosy-case-control-study
19.0
Serum level of Selenium, Zinc, and Vitamin C and their relation to the clinical spectrum of leprosy / https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/35404855
20.0
Oxidative stress and antioxidant vitamins in leprosy / file:///D:/Downloads/medip,+2594-10186-1-CE.pdf