title: The effect of ultraviolet B-induced vitamin D levels on host resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a pilot study in immigrant Asian adults living in the United Kingdom.
abstract: Asian immigrants to the United Kingdom demonstrate much higher tuberculosis rates than the indigenous population. This is postulated to be because of their low vitamin D levels, consequent upon a combination of diet and their reduced ultraviolet (UV) exposure in the United Kingdom, because vitamin D enhances antimycobacterial activity in in vitro systems. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between UVB exposure, vitamin D levels and tuberculo-immunity in Asian immigrants in the United Kingdom. Suberythemal UVB treatments were given to eight subjects on 3 consecutive days, using broadband UVB fluorescent lamps. Blood was sampled for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH D) and whole blood functional assays were performed for antimycobacterial immunity. The mean 25-OH D level increased from a baseline of 11.23 ng/ml (95% CI 6.7-20.39) to 20.39 ng/ml (95% CI 16.6-20) following UVB treatment, P<0.01. However, no significant change in antimycobacterial immunity occurred following UVB exposure. This pilot study in Asian subjects with good baseline tuberculo-immunity has not supported a role for UVB-induced 25-OH D in the immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK. paul.yesudian@coch.nhs.uk
authors: Paul Devakar
authors: PD
authors: Yesudian
authors: Jacqueline Lesley
authors: JL
authors: Berry
authors: Siouxsie
authors: S
authors: Wiles
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Hoyle
authors: Douglas Brownlie
authors: DB
authors: Young
authors: Ann Katarina
authors: AK
authors: Haylett
authors: Lesley Elizabeth
authors: LE
authors: Rhodes
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Davies
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D006113:United Kingdom; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D