01685nas a2200265   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001200059653001400071653002100085100002300106700002000129700002400149700002500173700001800198700001300216700002300229245006200252856005400314300001000368490000700378050001800385520100200403022001401405       2014                            d  c2014 Jan-Feb10aleprosy10aNutrition10aOxidative Stress1 aPassos Vázquez CM1 aMendes Netto RS1 aFerreira Barbosa KB1 aRodrigues de Moura T1 aDe Almeida RP1 aDuthie M1 aRibeiro de Jesus A00aMicronutrients influencing the immune response in leprosy  uhttp://www.nutricionhospitalaria.com/pdf/6988.pdf  a26-360 v29  aVáZQUEZ 20143 aLeprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an intracellular bacillus of airborne transmission. The disease affects the skin and peripheral nerves and can cause neurological sequelae. The bacillus multiplies slowly in the host and the disease probably occurs due to malfunctioning in host immune response. This review addresses the role of some specific micronutrients in the immune response, such as Vitamins A, D, E, C, Zinc and Selenium, detailing their mechanisms of actions in infectious diseases, and in leprosy. The immune response to pathogens releases harmful substances, which lead to tissue damage. This review discusses how a decreased level of antioxidants may contribute to an increased oxidative stress and complications of infectious diseases and leprosy. As the nutrients have a regulatory effect in the innate and adaptative immune responses, a perfect balance in their concentrations is important to improve the immune response against the pathogens.  a1699-5198