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Vitamin D in Gambian children with discordant tuberculosis (TB) infection status despite matched TB exposure: a case

Lisa Stockdale1,2, Basil Sambou3, Muhamed Sissoko3

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. lisa.stockdale@ndm.ox.ac.uk.

European Journal of Pediatrics
|October 13, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Children with higher vitamin D levels were less likely to contract tuberculosis (TB) infection, even with close exposure to an infected adult. This suggests vitamin D may play a protective role against TB transmission.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

  • Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge.
  • The role of vitamin D in TB susceptibility and progression is under investigation.
  • Understanding factors influencing TB infection risk in highly exposed individuals is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between vitamin D levels and tuberculin skin test (TST) status in children with high TB exposure.
  • To determine if vitamin D levels differ between asymptomatic children who are TST-positive versus TST-negative despite similar TB exposure.

Main Methods:

  • A matched case-control study was conducted in 2015 at MRC Gambia.
  • 24 asymptomatic children with high TB exposure and positive TST (infected) were matched with 24 asymptomatic children with high TB exposure and negative TST (uninfected).
  • Vitamin D levels were measured and compared between the two groups.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in median age was observed between infected (10.0 years) and uninfected (8.8 years) children (p=0.13).
  • Mean vitamin D levels were 2.05 ng/mL higher in the uninfected group compared to the infected group (95% CI: -0.288 to 4.38, p=0.08).
  • Although not statistically significant at the p<0.05 level, a trend suggested higher vitamin D in TB-uninfected children.

Conclusions:

  • Vitamin D levels were higher in TB-uninfected children compared to TB-infected children, despite equal high exposure to an adult TB case.
  • These findings suggest a potential protective role for vitamin D against TB infection.
  • Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm these results and explore their clinical significance.

Keywords:
Case controlPaediatricTBThe GambiaTuberculosisVitamin D

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