Authors :
Joyce Samuel Inuwa Zalanga; Maikano Mohammad Ari; Akyala Ishaku Adamu; Nkereuwem Sunday Etukudoh; Jack Vala; Orinya Agbaji Orinya; Dr. Eno Chongs Mantu; Susan A. J. Holdbrooke; Joseph A. Iyanam; Deborah Akpan Iyanam; Joseph Ikang Ogbudu
Volume/Issue :
Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 3 - March
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/wmuj7hcu
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/4wr83v9v
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26mar011
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
Monkeypox virus infection (MPXV)has for some time now been a public health concern, with patients recovery
being majorly dependent of supportive care. Vitamin A, a major micronutrient for immune competence and epithelial
integrity has been proposed as a potential adjunct therapy for improving patients care and recovery in the management of
MPXV. This systematic review synth esizes current evidence on the nutritional management of MPXV, focusing on the effect
of vitamin A on clinical outcome and recovery time.Searches were made on PubMed, Scopus, web of science and other
reliable literatures for studies published up to 2025, that assessed the effect of vitamin A on MPXV. Studies that were
eligible were further scrutinized for methodological quality using appropriate tools. Initial findings suggest that adequate
vitamin A status correlates with reduces lesion severity, and shorter duration of viral shedding. The study recommends that
vitamin A incorporation of between 5,000-10,000iu daily from foods such as dark leafy vegetables, liver, carrots and sweet
potatoes especially Orange Flesh Sweet Potatoes (OFSP) could reduce the severity of monkeypox virus infection, as well as
improve patients’ recovery during management. This study also encourages, pairing vitamin A. with a balanced intake of
zinc, protein and vitamin C, as well as adequate fluid for optimal support, and faster recovery. this systematic review also
calls for the need for a well-designed randomized control trial to establish optimal vitamin A dosing, safety ranges, and its
integration into an all-inclusive nutritional care pathway for MPXV patient management.
Keywords :
Monkey Pox; Micro Nutrient; Vitamin A; Nutritional Management. Public Health
References :
- Adetifa, I., Muyembe, J. J., Bausch, D. G., & Heymann, D. L. (2023). Mpox neglect and the smallpox niche: A problem for Africa, a problem for the world. The Lancet, 401(10390), 1822–1824.
- Ahmed Ibrahim Alashry, A. I., & Morsy, T. A. (2021). [Article title unavailable]. Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology, 51(1), 29–42.
- Almaida, C. M. M., &Menezes, M.S.S. (2024) structural, functional and nutritional aspect of vitamin A, Journal of functional foods. 112, 105953.
- Bitot, C. (1863). [Article title unavailable]. Gazette Hebdomadaire de Médecine et de Chirurgie, 10, 284.
- Bohn, T., Desmarchelier, C., El, S. N., Keijer, J., & van Schothorst, E. M. (2019). Beta-carotene in the human body: Metabolic bioactivation pathways from digestion to tissue distribution and excretion. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 78(1), 68–87.
- Bonilla-Aldana, D. K., & Rodriguez-Morales, A. J. (2022). Is monkeypox another reemerging viral zoonosis with many animal hosts yet to be defined? Veterinary Quarterly, 42(1), 148–150.
- Bunge, E. M., Hoet, B., Chen, L., et al. (2022). The changing epidemiology of human monkeypox: A potential threat? A systematic review. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 16(2), e0010141.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2003). Update: Multistate outbreak of monkeypox—Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin, 2003. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 52(27), 642–646.
- Cohen, J. (2022). Monkeypox outbreak questions intensify as cases soar. Science, 376(6596), 902–903.
- Dawson, M. I. (2000). The importance of vitamin A in nutrition. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 6(3), 311–325.
- de Pee, S., & Dary, O. (2002). Biochemical indicators of vitamin A deficiency: Serum retinol and serum retinol-binding protein. The Journal of Nutrition, 132(9), 2895S.
- Domán, M., Fehér, E., Varga-Kugler, R., Jakab, F., & Bányai, K. (2022). Animal models used in monkeypox research. Microorganisms, 10(11), 2192.
- Dung, N. T., Hung, L. M., Hoa, H. T. T., et al. (2023). Monkeypox virus infection in two female travelers returning to Vietnam from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2022. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 29(4). https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2904.221835
- Fine, P. E., Jezek, Z., Grab, B., & Dixon, H. (1988). The transmission potential of monkeypox virus in human populations. International Journal of Epidemiology, 17(3), 643–650.
- Fisher, G. J., & Voorhees, J. J. (1996). Molecular mechanisms of retinoid actions in skin. FASEB Journal, 10(9), 1002–1013. https://doi.org/10.1096/fasebj.10.9.8801161
- Hartman, R., et al. (2024). Retinoid-based regimen led to significant improvements in skin clarity among patients with darker blemish-prone skin. Dermatology Times.
- Huang, Y., Mu, L., & Wang, W. (2022). Monkeypox: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment and prevention. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 7(1), 373. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-022-01215-4
- Iroezindu, M. O., Crowell, T. A., Ogoina, D., & Yinka-Ogunleye, A. (2023). Human mpox in people living with HIV: Epidemiologic and clinical perspectives from Nigeria. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, 39(11), 593–600.
- Johnson, E. J., & Russell, R. M. (2010). Beta-carotene. In P. M. Coates et al. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of dietary supplements (2nd ed.). Information Healthcare.
- Kaler, J., Hussain, A., Flores, G., Kheiri, S., & Desrosiers, D. (2022). Monkeypox: A comprehensive review of transmission, pathogenesis, and manifestation. Cureus, 14(7), e26531.
- Karem, K. L., Reynolds, M. G., & Hughes, C. M. (2021). Monkeypox: Past outbreaks and current status. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 21(6), 742–750. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00056-0
- Khodakevich, L., Jezek, Z., & Kinzanzka, K. (1986). Isolation of monkeypox virus from wild squirrel infected in nature. The Lancet, 1(8472), 98–99.
- Kumar, N., Acharya, A., Gendelman, H. E., & Byrareddy, S. N. (2022). The 2022 outbreak and the pathobiology of the monkeypox virus. Journal of Autoimmunity, 131, 102855.
- Likos, A. M., Sammons, S. A., Olson, V. A., et al. (2005). A tale of two clades: Monkeypox viruses. Journal of General Virology, 86, 2661–2672.
- Lounis, M., & Riad, A. (2023). Monkeypox (MPOX)-related knowledge and vaccination hesitancy in non-endemic countries: A concise literature review. Vaccines, 11(2), 229.
- Malone, S. M., Mitra, A. K., Onumah, N. A., et al. (2023). Safety and efficacy of post-eradication smallpox vaccine as an mpox vaccine: A systematic review with meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(4), 2963.
- Mitjà, O., et al. (2023). Monkeypox. The Lancet, 401(10370), 60–74.
- Nguyen, P. Y., Ajisegiri, W. S., Costantino, V., Chughtai, A. A., & MacIntyre, C. R. (2021). Re-emergence of human monkeypox and declining population immunity in the context of urbanization, Nigeria, 2017–2020. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 27(4), 1007–1014.
- Nguyen, P. Y., Ajisegiri, W. S., Costantino, V., Chughtai, A. A., & MacIntyre, C. R. (2022). Re-emergence of human monkeypox and barriers to effective healthcare. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 26(4), 913–918. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2604.191278
- Reynolds, M. G., Carroll, D. S., & Karem, K. L. (2012). Factors affecting the likelihood of monkeypox’s emergence and spread in the post-smallpox era. Current Opinion in Virology, 2, 335–343.
- Tower, S. (2021). Immune responses and nutritional considerations in viral epidemics. Journal of Global Health Nutrition, 5(1), 45–55.
- Wang, K., Yang, Z., Ma, Y., Liu, W., Li, G., Xu, X., & Li, Q. (2025). Retinoids in scarless skin regeneration: From molecular mechanisms to therapeutic strategies. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 13, 1683851. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2025.1683851
- World Health Organization. (2023). 2022–23 mpox (monkeypox) outbreak: Global trends.
- Zahmatyar, M., Fazlollahi, A., Motamedi, A., et al. (2023). Human monkeypox: History, presentations, transmission, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Frontiers in Medicine, 10, 1157670.
Monkeypox virus infection (MPXV)has for some time now been a public health concern, with patients recovery
being majorly dependent of supportive care. Vitamin A, a major micronutrient for immune competence and epithelial
integrity has been proposed as a potential adjunct therapy for improving patients care and recovery in the management of
MPXV. This systematic review synth esizes current evidence on the nutritional management of MPXV, focusing on the effect
of vitamin A on clinical outcome and recovery time.Searches were made on PubMed, Scopus, web of science and other
reliable literatures for studies published up to 2025, that assessed the effect of vitamin A on MPXV. Studies that were
eligible were further scrutinized for methodological quality using appropriate tools. Initial findings suggest that adequate
vitamin A status correlates with reduces lesion severity, and shorter duration of viral shedding. The study recommends that
vitamin A incorporation of between 5,000-10,000iu daily from foods such as dark leafy vegetables, liver, carrots and sweet
potatoes especially Orange Flesh Sweet Potatoes (OFSP) could reduce the severity of monkeypox virus infection, as well as
improve patients’ recovery during management. This study also encourages, pairing vitamin A. with a balanced intake of
zinc, protein and vitamin C, as well as adequate fluid for optimal support, and faster recovery. this systematic review also
calls for the need for a well-designed randomized control trial to establish optimal vitamin A dosing, safety ranges, and its
integration into an all-inclusive nutritional care pathway for MPXV patient management.
Keywords :
Monkey Pox; Micro Nutrient; Vitamin A; Nutritional Management. Public Health