Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026
A Functional Whole Blood Assay to Measure Viability of Mycobacteria, using Reporter-Gene Tagged BCG or M.Tb BCG lux/M.Tb lux
Published on: September 14, 2011
Vitamin D levels in Indian children with intrathoracic tuberculosis
Deepchand Khandelwal, Nandita Gupta, Aparna Mukherjee
1Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Insights
Most Indian children with intrathoracic tuberculosis are vitamin D deficient. While vitamin D levels did not impact disease type or overall outcome, deficiency was linked to slower sputum conversion in pediatric tuberculosis patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Nutritional immunology
- Respiratory medicine
Background:
- Vitamin D, an immunomodulator, is linked to tuberculosis susceptibility in adults.
- Limited data exists on vitamin D's role in pediatric tuberculosis, particularly regarding disease type and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine baseline 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in children with intrathoracic tuberculosis.
- To investigate the association between vitamin D levels and the type and outcome of pediatric tuberculosis.
Main Methods:
- Children with intrathoracic tuberculosis were enrolled in a micronutrient supplementation trial.
- Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were measured using chemiluminescent immunoassay before treatment.
Main Results:
- 69.9% of children had vitamin D deficiency (<12 ng/ml), 20.7% insufficiency (12-20 ng/ml), and 9.4% sufficiency (≥20 ng/ml).
- Vitamin D levels were similar across tuberculosis types and diagnostic certainty.
- Deficiency/insufficiency was associated with slower sputum conversion at two months (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- The majority of Indian children with newly diagnosed intrathoracic tuberculosis exhibit vitamin D deficiency.
- Vitamin D levels did not influence disease type or overall treatment outcome.
- Lower baseline vitamin D levels were observed in children with delayed sputum conversion.
Background & Objectives:
Deficiency of vitamin D, an immunomodulator agent, is associated with increased susceptibility to tuberculosis in adults, but only limited studies are available in the paediatric age group, especially regarding association of vitamin D with type and outcome of tuberculosis. We conducted this study to determine the baseline 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in children suffering from intrathoracic tuberculosis and its association with type and outcome of tuberculosis.
Methods:
Children with intrathoracic tuberculosis, diagnosed on the basis of clinico-radiological criteria, were enrolled as part of a randomized controlled trial on micronutrient supplementation in paediatric tuberculosis patients. Levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D were measured in serum samples collected prior to starting antitubercular therapy by chemiluminescent immunoassay technology.
Results:
Two hundred sixty six children (mean age of 106.9 ± 43.7 months; 57.1% girls) were enrolled. Chest X-ray was suggestive of primary pulmonary complex, progressive disease and pleural effusion in 81 (30.5%), 149 (56%) and 36 (13.5%) subjects, respectively. Median serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level was 8 ng/ml (IQR 5, 12). One hundred and eighty six (69.9%) children were vitamin D deficient (serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D <12 ng/ml), 55 (20.7%) were insufficient (12 to <20 ng/ml) and 25 (9.4%) were vitamin D sufficient (≥ 20 ng/ml). Levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D were similar in all three types of intrathoracic tuberculosis, and in microbiologically confirmed and probable cases. Levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D did not significantly affect outcome of the disease. Children who were deficient or insufficient were less likely to convert (become smear/culture negative) at two months as compared to those who were 25-hydroxy vitamin D sufficient ( p <0.05).
Interpretation & Conclusions:
Majority of Indian children with newly diagnosed intrathoracic tuberculosis were deficient in vitamin D. Type of disease or outcome was not affected by 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in these children. However, children who did not demonstrate sputum conversion after intensive phase of antitubercular therapy had lower baseline 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels as compared to those who did.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:26Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV
Several diagnostic approaches are used to detect TB. The conventional method is the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), also known as the Mantoux test. However, this method has...
01:29Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
01:31Pulmonary Tuberculosis III
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:
01:28Pulmonary Tuberculosis V
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the...
01:28Pulmonary Tuberculosis II
Here is a detailed explanation of its pathophysiology:
Transmission: The process begins when a person inhales droplet nuclei containing M. tuberculosis. These are typically released into the air when an individual with pulmonary or...
01:23Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin...