Intake of nutrient supplements affects multiplication of Leishmania donovani in hamsters.
The role of the essential nutrients, vitamins A, B (complex), C and E and iron, as prophylactic as well as supportive therapy in experimental visceral leishmaniasis (VL), was studied in hamsters. Prophylactic administration of vitamin C (50, 100 and 250 mg/kg) from day 15 to day 0 (15 doses) significantly reduced the intake of Leishmania donovani in hamsters but had no therapeutic effect. In contrast, vitamins A, B complex and E and iron, whether used prophylactically or therapeutically, promoted parasite multiplication. The efficacy of sodium stibogluconate, a reference antileishmanial drug, was appreciably improved in animals administered prophylactically with vitamin C. However, supplementation of vitamin C during established infections resulted in reduced drug action. The results show that the prophylactic use of vitamin C may prevent the onset of leishmania infection and cautions against the indiscriminate use of nutrient supplements such as vitamin A, B complex, and E and iron in VL endemic areas.
Garg
Ravendra
R
Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow - 226001, India.
Singh
Nirpendra
N
Dube
Anuradha
A
D000818:Animals; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006224:Cricetinae; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000254:growth & development*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D014810:Vitamin E; D007501:Iron; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate