Serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 concentrations increase during tuberculosis treatment in Tanzania.
METHODS
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with susceptibility to active tuberculosis (TB) in many settings. In vitro studies and studies on human volunteers showed that two of the first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs, isoniazid and rifampicin, reduce 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations.


OBJECTIVE
To study changes in vitamin D status during treatment of Tanzanian hospitalised patients with pulmonary TB (PTB).


METHODS
We compared serum 25[OH]D concentrations in 81 Tanzanian PTB patients before and after 2 months of treatment.


RESULTS
Median serum 25[OH]D concentrations increased from 91 nmol/l at baseline to 101 nmol/l after 2 months of TB treatment (median increase 6.0 nmol/l, IQR -0.7-25.0, P = 0.001). Median serum parathyroid hormone concentrations increased from 1.6 to 2.0 pmol/l (median increase 0.46, IQR -0.2-1.1, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
25[OH]D serum concentrations increased during the first 2 months of TB treatment in 81 PTB patients in northern Tanzania. Improved dietary intake and increased sunlight exposure may have contributed to the increased 25[OH]D concentrations.
Tostmann
A
A
Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. a lmatostmann@yahoo.com
Wielders
J P M
JP
Kibiki
G S
GS
Verhoef
H
H
Boeree
M J
MJ
van der Ven
A J A M
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012293:Rifampin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013472:Sunlight; D013636:Tanzania; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; D002112:Calcifediol; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin