VITAMIN D AND TUBERCULOSIS

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global healthcare issue. The incidence of TB in sub-SaharanAfrica is around 350 per 100,000, compared with an incidence of 50 per 100,000 in Europe andapproximately 231/100000 in Pakistan. Around 1.7 million people died in 2009 due to TB and the absolutenumber of cases rises each year due to increasing global population. The emergence of drug resistance,worsening malnutrition in the settings of political instability and civil unrest, and the detrimental effects ofHIV coinfection have challenged TB eradication programs worldwide.Historically treatment of TB included exposure to sunlight and was effective particularly in thetreatment of lupus vulgaris. The isolation of vitamin D from cod liver oil, which was used to treat TB in 3the 1930s, led to its widespread use in TB treatment and prevention, until the introduction of effectivechemotherapy in the 1950s. The occurrence of drug resistant tuberculosis has necessitated development ofnew adjuvant or chemo-therapeutic agents. This editorial will discuss whether vitamin D is one suchadjuvant treatment.