title: Vitamin D deficiency and susceptibility to tuberculosis.
abstract: Vitamin D, a modulator of macrophage function, can activate human anti-mycobacterial activity. Vitamin D deficiency is therefore associated with a higher risk of tuberculosis (TB) infection, as indicated by several observations. First, TB tends to occur during the colder seasons when cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D from sun exposure is reduced and serum vitamin D levels are lower. Second, patients with untreated TB, particularly those from a temperate climate, have lower serum vitamin D levels than healthy subjects. Third, the incidence of TB is higher among subjects with relatively low serum vitamin D levels, such as the elderly, uremic patients, and Asian immigrants in the U.K.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005006:Ethnicity; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D