Lee Swanson Research Update

Single Dose of Vitamin D Boosts Fight Against TB

July 2007

One 2.5 mg dose of vitamin D may help the immune system fight tuberculosis (TB) and other bacteria for six weeks, according to research funded by the Wellcome Trust (London), Newham Council Department of Environmental Health (London) and Newham University Hospital NHS Trust (London) Respiratory Fund.

In their study, the researchers noted that while vitamin D was used to treat TB in the "preantibiotic era," there have never been any studies performed that actually evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on antimycobacterial immunity.

After studying patients at Newham University Hospital and Northwick Park Hospital who had been exposed to TB, the researchers found that more than 90% had a vitamin D deficiency. The researchers then gave either a placebo or 2.5 mg of vitamin D to 192 volunteers and tested their blood to see how their immune systems fought off mycobacteria.

"We found that a single large dose of vitamin D was sufficient to enhance a person's immunity to the bacteria," according to study coordinator Adrian Martineau, who is affiliated with Imperial College's (London) division of medicine. "This is very significant, given the high levels of vitamin D deficiency in people at the highest risk of TB infection, and shows that a simple, cheap supplement could make a significant impact on the health of people most at risk of the disease."

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 176:208-213, 2007

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