Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology

Low serum vitamin D in north Indian multi-drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis patients: The role of diet and sunlight

3^rd International Congress on Bacteriology and Infectious Diseases

August 04-06, 2015 Valencia, Spain

Jaishriram Rathored1, Surendra Kumar Sharma1, Aarti Chauhan1, Bhagteshwar Singh1, Jayant Nagesh Banavaliker2, V Sreenivas1 and Abhay Krishna Srivastava1

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Bacteriol Parasitol

Abstract:

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) and malnutrition are major global health problems with multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB
complicating international efforts. The role of vitamin D in susceptibility to and as adjunctive treatment of TB is being studied
extensively, though no study has included MDR-TB patients.
Objective: This study set out to estimate vitamin D serum levels and examine their association with dietary intake and sun
exposure in patients with MDR-TB.
Methods: North Indian participants were enrolled into three groups: MDR-TB, drug-susceptible pulmonary TB (DS-PTB)
and healthy controls. All consenting participants underwent estimation of macro- and micro-nutrient intake and sun exposure
using structured questionnaires. Serum biochemistry including 25-hydroxy vitamin D and calcium was measured and
correlation between variables determined.
Results: 747 participants were enrolled. Significant difference among the three groups was found in mean serum 25-hydroxy
vitamin D levels, body mass index, macronutrient intake, dietary vitamin D and calcium and sun exposure index (SEI). All,
except sun exposure (SEI was highest in DS-PTB patients) were found to follow the trend: MDR-TB<DS-PTB<healthy controls.
Mean serum vitamin D of all groups indicated deficiency correlating positively with dietary intake and SEI.
Conclusion: This study’s novel finding is that MDR-TB patients have lower serum vitamin D concentrations than DS-PTB
patients and healthy controls. Dietary intake may be more important than sun exposure in dictating serum levels. Significance
of this is uncertain. Further study is required into confirmation of the association, its direction and potential for vitamin D
supplementation to treat or prevent MDR-TB infection.