Impact of Vitamin D in Prophylaxis and Treatment in Tuberculosis Patients

Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Mar 31;23(7):3860. doi: 10.3390/ijms23073860.

Abstract

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in many infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB), that remains one of the world's top infectious killers with 1.5 million deaths from TB in 2021. Vitamin D suppresses the replication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro and showed a promising role in TB management as a result of its connection with oxidative balance. Our review encourages the possible in vivo benefit of a joint administration with other vitamins, such as vitamin A, which share a known antimycobacterial action with vitamin D. However, considering the low incidence of side effects even at high dosages and its low cost, it would be advisable to assess vitamin D level both in patients with active TB and high-risk groups and administer it, at least to reach sufficiency levels.

Keywords: TB; outcome; prophylaxis; treatment; tuberculosis; vitamin D.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis*
  • Tuberculosis* / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis* / prevention & control
  • Vitamin D / pharmacology
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use
  • Vitamins / pharmacology
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Vitamins
  • Vitamin D