DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i10.071

Pages: 4171-4178

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major challenge to global public health. Vitamin D is an immunoregulatory hormone. Epidemiological evidence also suggests a link between vitamin D deficiency, serum calcium, serum phosphate and TB but the relation is not clear. Our study was aimed to assess the levels of serum Vitamin D, serum calcium and phosphorus in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients of Mewat. Blood samples were collected from 100 patients with newly diagnosed PTB (PTB-0) and PTB cases taking treatment or have completed treatment (PTB-Rx). Age and sex matched controls with same ethnic background, dietary habits and sun exposure were taken. Serum was analysed for vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus. Serum vitamin D was significantly decreased in both groups of cases (PTB-0=13.9+5.8 ng/ml)(PTB-Rx=13.6+5.1ng/ml) as compared to controls (29.5+ 6.5 ng/ml). 86% of cases had vitamin D value <20ng/ml. Calcium was comparable in all the groups. Serum phosphorus was significantly increased in newly diagnosed PTB cases (5.3+1.2 mg/dl) but was within normophosphatemic limits as compared to controls (4.1+0.4 mg/dl) and was comparable with that of PTB cases on treatment or completed treatment (5.2+1.7 mg/dl). Hypovitaminosis D was significantly associated with TB infection in our study. Since it has a role in Cell Mediated Immunity it could be one of the causes for the infection. Deficiency was noted in 86% of the cases, the importance of improving the nutrition and if required even supplementing vitamin D by food fortification.