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Micronutrient Malnutrition, Infection, and Immunity: an Overview

2002; Oxford University Press; Volume: 60; Issue: suppl_5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1301/00296640260130722

1753-4887

Padbidri Bhaskaram,

Trace Elements in Health

Micronutrient deficiencies and infectious diseases often coexist and exhibit complex interactions leading to the vicious cycle of malnutrition and infections among underprivileged populations of the developing countries, particularly in preschool children. Several micronutrients such as vitamin A, beta-carotene, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin C, riboflavin, iron, zinc, and selenium, have immunomodulating functions and thus influence the susceptibility of a host to infectious diseases and the course and outcome of such diseases. Certain of these micronutrients also possess antioxidant functions that not only regulate immune homeostasis of the host, but also alter the genome of the microbes, particularly in viruses, resulting in grave consequences like resurgence of old infectious diseases or the emergence of new infections. These micronutrient infection and immune function interactions and their clinical and public health relevance in developing countries are briefly reviewed in this article.