Tuberculosis and Vitamin D: An Intriguing Relationship

Abstract

Tuberculosis remains the infectious disease that has caused the most deaths throughout the history of human existence, without being able to even manage to control this disease. In recent years, an important body of clinical evidence has emerged about the role of vitamin D (calcitriol or 1,25 hydroxyvitamin D) in a role that goes beyond calcium homeostasis; of these its role in the immune system is very interesting, linking its deficit as a risk factor, contributor and physiopathological in a large number of autoimmune and infectious diseases. Among these, tuberculosis stands out, an endemic disease in our country and where the deficit of this compound (vitamin D) creates a risk factor to develop this disease in its active form. Is presented, a detailed review of the studies that explain the role of vitamin D in the susceptibility to the development of tuberculosis and the results of the clinical studies of substitution of the same, which are published to date.