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Vitamin D Status in South Africa and Tuberculosis

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Abstract

According to the World Health Organisation South Africa has the third highest tuberculosis (TB) incidence in the world, with an estimated 60 % incident cases having both TB and HIV. The South African National Tuberculosis Association (SANTA) recognized the importance of nutrition in the prevention and management of TB by including feeding schemes in community outreach programs. Vitamin D enhances innate immunity against mycobacterial infection through the antimicrobial peptide, cathelicidin. We reviewed studies on vitamin D status, its link with TB, and potential use in therapy in multiethnic South Africa with sunlight as primary source of vitamin D. Ethnicity, season, disease state, latitude, and urbanization are critical factors to be considered in vitamin D supplementation for prevention and treatment of TB.

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Acknowledgments

We thank National Research foundation (NRF, Grant No. 81774) and the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) for financial support of our research. Dr. Abhimanyu is indebted to the Claude Leon foundation that sponsored his Postdoctoral fellowship.

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  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park Kingsway Campus, Auckland Park, PO Box 524, Johannesburg, 2006, Gauteng, South Africa

    Abhimanyu, Vanessa Meyer, Tamsyn Jacki Jeffery & Liza Bornman

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  1. Abhimanyu
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  2. Vanessa Meyer
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  4. Liza Bornman
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Correspondence to Liza Bornman.

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This work was carried out in accordance with ‘The Code of Ethics of the World Medical Association (Declaration of Helsinki) for experiments involving humans’. Ethical clearance was obtained from the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) and the University of Johannesburg’s Faculty of Science Ethics Committees.

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Abhimanyu, Meyer, V., Jeffery, T.J. et al. Vitamin D Status in South Africa and Tuberculosis. Lung 193, 975–984 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-015-9789-4

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