Vitamins Types Role of vitamin And
in Parasitism
Definition and Classification
Non-caloric organic nutrients
Needed in very small amounts
Facilitators – help body processes such as digestion, absorption,
metabolism, growth etc.
Some appear in food as precursors or provitamins
2 classes
Fat soluble:
Water soluble:
Fat vs. Water Soluble Vitamins
Water Soluble Fat Soluble Absorption Directly to
blood Lymph via
Chylomicron
Transport free Require carrier
Storage Circulate freely In cells with fat Excretion In urine Stored with fat Toxicity Less likely More Likely Requirements Every 2-3 days Every week
Role of Vitamin B in immunity against
parasitic infection
(Parasitism)
Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin) is important for formation of antibodies which play important role in humeral immunity against parasites Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine) and Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin) may play a role to control malarial parasite
Vitamin-12 in host intestine can be
absorbed by Diphyllobothrium, a genus of tapeworm, resulting in vitamin B12 deficiency syndrome.
Vitamin A maintains healthy skin which in turn play a role as a physical barrier against parasites
Vitamin A regulate immune system
Vitamin A improves host defenses against Giardia infections.
Children who received vitamin A supplementation had shorter durations of Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC)- associated diarrhea
Vitamin A deficiency increases the risk of
diarrhea, Plasmodium falciparum malaria, measles, and overall mortality.
Role of Vitamin A in immunity against
parasitic infection
(Parasitism)
Vitamin E helps in wound healing thus prevent the host from parasitic infection
Supplementing dietary vitamin E may help in the
ability of small ruminants, particularly young animals, to resist nematode infection
Deficiencies in vitamin E can intensify the infectivity and pathogenesis of coxsackievirus B3 (causes
hand, foot, and mouth disease) and influenza
Deficiencies of Vitamin E lower the immunity of mice to round worm Heligmosomoides polygyrus Infections
Role of Vitamin E in immunity against
parasitic infection
(Parasitism)
Vitamin C is vital to the immune system, aiding white blood cells that attack and destroy cancer cells, viruses, bacteria, parasites and other
pathogens.
Vitamin C also promotes wound healing and acts to control the release of histamine.
Synthetic vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, kills both beneficial probiotic bacteria and pathogenic
bacteria in the gut
Role of Vitamin C in immunity against
parasitic infection
(Parasitism)
Vitamin D can help to control tuberculosis, influenza, and viral upper respiratory tract illnesses.
