Evaluation of some vitamin levels and some epidemiological criteria in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis in Samarra city

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the levels of selected vitamins in individuals diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis in Samarra City, with a focus on exploring potential correlations between nutritional status and disease severity. Blood samples were collected from 60 patients clinically and parasitologically diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis, along with 30 healthy age- and sex-matched individuals as a control group. Biochemical assays were performed to determine serum concentrations of vitamins, C, E, and D3 using spectrophotometric and ELISA techniques.

The findings revealed a statistically significant decrease (P<0.05) in the mean levels of vitamins A, C, and E in infected patients compared to the healthy controls. Vitamin D3 levels were high. These results suggest that oxidative stress and impaired immunity may play a role in disease progression, highlighting a possible link between micronutrient deficiency and the pathophysiology of leishmaniasis. An inverse correlation was also observed between the severity of lesions and the levels of antioxidant vitamins.

The study recommends incorporating nutritional assessment into the clinical management of cutaneous leishmaniasis, especially in endemic regions, and providing affected individuals with antioxidant vitamin supplementation to enhance immune response and therapeutic outcomes. It also suggests the need for broader investigations into the role of other nutritional elements in parasitic diseases.