Vitamin D and tuberculosis: an overestimated protection?

#Tuberculosis #VitaminD #InfectiousDiseases  


Despite effective treatments and well-established prevention strategies, tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the leading causes of infectious mortality worldwide, affecting more than 10 million people each year. The challenge is particularly acute in countries with poor living conditions, limited access to healthcare, and high rates of HIV co-infection, which increases population vulnerability. Therefore, prevention continues to be a top public health priority.  

In this context, vitamin D has attracted growing interest due to its immunomodulatory properties. It contributes to macrophage activation, regulation of inflammatory responses, and synthesis of antimicrobial peptides involved in the control of tuberculosis infection. Many studies suggest that vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis or progression to active disease. These findings have naturally led to considering vitamin D supplementation as a complementary preventive strategy.