The Health Benefits of Vitamin D Relevant for Tuberculosis

Abstract

Summary Vitamin D has an important role in numerous physiological functions. Vitamin D receptors are characterized by polymorphisms and presence in different tissues including a number of cells of the immune system. The role of vitamin D as a biological inhibitor of inflammatory hyperactivity is of particular importance. Hypovitaminosis D has been associated with many serious chronic diseases, such as autoimmune, infectious and cardiovascular diseases as well as some types of cancer. Vitamin D has an influence on the immune res ponse to tuberculosis. Calcitriol (1,25-dihydro xycholecalciferol), the major active form of vitamin D, has shown in vitro activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It has been found that susceptibility to chronic mycobacterial infections is strongly correlated with a low vi tamin D intake and particular VDR alleles. Vitamin D deficiency might predispose the individuals infected with Myco bacterium tuberculosis to develop tu-ber culosis. Calcitriol binds to vitamin D receptors and modulates immune responses by regulating the transcription of genes responsive to vitamin D. Faster conversion of sputum mycobacterial culture in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis is associated with being a carrier of the t allele of the T a q I vitamin D receptor polymorphism. On the contrary, slower spu tum culture conversion in pulmonary tuberculosis has been found in the carriers of the f allele of the FokI vitamin D receptor polymorphism. The results of in vitro studies, clini-cal research and population studies indicated that vitamin D deficiency might be a strong risk factor for developing TB. Vitamin D is an inexpensive, easily accessible vitamin, relevant for the prevention of tuberculosis. In addition, vitamin D could contribute to the success of tuberculosis treatment.