Assessment of Serum Concentrations of Vitamin D in Young Male Patients with Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is highly prevalent worldwide, accounting for nearly two million deaths annually. Vitamin D influences the immune response to tuberculosis, and vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased tuberculosis risk in different populations (Bedoya and Ronnenberg, 2009).The aim of this study has been to determine the possibility of an association between tuberculosis and low serum vitamin D concentration in young male patientsand to monitor the changes in vitamin D levels after TB treatment.Material and Methods: Twenty five (25) Patients aged 20-40 with newly diagnosed TB were enrolled in this study. They were divided into eleven (11) cases on first line TB treatment for 2-3 months and fourteen (14) cases before starting TB treatment. Twenty five (25) age and sex matched healthy volunteers were enrolled as controls. For all groups body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Also serum calcium (Ca ),25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and 1-25-hydroxyvitamin D (1-25-OHD) levels were measured and compared.Results There was significant difference between groups as regard BMI, serum Ca , 25-OHD and1-25-OHD (p<0.0001 for all groups). In the TB group both25-OHD and1-25-OHD were lower in patients who were underTB treatment compared to patients who didn't received treatment (p<0.001).Conclusion: Low serum vitamin D concentrations may be a consequence of TB disease. The possibility that low serum 25-OHD and1-25-(OH)2 D concentrations may predispose to tuberculosis infection cannot, be excluded. Antituberculous treatment has been shown to reduce serum 25-OHD and1-25-(OH)2vitD, which may increase the risk of vitamin D deficiency.