Vitamin D in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Vitamin D was used to treat tuberculosis in the pre-antibiotic era. New insights into the immunomodulatory properties of 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D have rekindled interest in vitamin D as an adjunct to antituberculous therapy. We describe the historical use of vitamin D in tuberculosis treatment; discuss the mechanisms by which it may modulate host response to infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis; and review three clinical trials and ten case series in which vitamin D has been used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Martineau
Adrian R
AR
Centre for Health Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences Education, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom. a.martineau@qmul.ac.uk
Honecker
Friedemann U
FU
Wilkinson
Robert J
RJ
Griffiths
Christopher J
CJ
D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014807:Vitamin D