[PHNUTR-L] Potential Role of Vitamin D in the Treatment of Tuberculosis

[Kathrynne Holden]

Colleagues, the following is FYI and does not necessarily reflect my own
opinion. I have no further knowledge of the topic. If you do not wish to
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	Potential Role of Vitamin D in the Treatment of Tuberculosis
http://www.vitasearch.com/CP/weeklyupdates/

Reference: 	"A single dose of vitamin D enhances immunity to 
mycobacteria," Martineau AR, Wilkinson RJ, et al, American Journal of 
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2007; 176(2): 208-13. (Address: 
Centre for Health Sciences, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and 
Dentistry, Barts and The London, and Department of Clinical 
Biochemistry, North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, Northwick Park 
Hospital, Harrow, E1 2AT, UK. E-mail: a.martineau at qmul.ac.uk ).

Summary: 	In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial 
involving 192 healthy adult tuberculosis (TB) contacts living in London, 
UK, supplementation with vitamin D was found to enhance the ability of 
the subjects' blood to resist BCG-lux luminescence in vitro, thereby 
improving its ability to resist mycobacteria. In the pre-antibiotic era, 
vitamin D was used as a treatment for tuberculosis. In this study, the 
researchers set out to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation 
on anti-mycobacterial immunity. Subjects were randomized to receive 
either a single dose of vitamin D (2.5 mg) or a placebo. At follow up 
(six weeks later), results found that the blood of subjects treated with 
vitamin D had a much greater ability to restrict BCG-lux luminescence in 
vitro, as compared to the placebo. Antigen-stimulated IFN-gamma 
secretion remained unaffected by the treatment. These results suggest 
that vitamin D supplementation may have a role to play in enhancing 
anti-mycobac terial immunity. The authors conclude, "Clinical trials 
should be performed to determine whether vitamin D supplementation 
prevents reactivation of latent TB infection."
-- 
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar at nutritionucanlivewith.com >
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