Effects of 25-hydroxy vitamin D on T lymphocyte subsets and sputum smear conversion during antituberculosis treatment

This study aimed to explore the effects of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) on T lymphocyte subsets and sputum smear conversion during antituberculosis (TB) treatment.

A total of 120 newly diagnosed patients with active pulmonary TB were collected and classified into vitamin D sufficiency group, vitamin D insufficiency group, and vitamin D deficiency group according to serum 25(OH)D levels. The clinical data and sputum smear conversion were collected and serum 25(OH)D and T lymphocyte subsets were also measured and compared.

Our data showed that 25(OH)D levels reached the lowest point at two months of anti-TB treatment. Significant differences existed in the increase of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells on the basis of vitamin D levels. The vitamin D sufficiency group had a significantly higher increase of CD4+ T cells during six months of anti-TB treatment and CD8+ T cells after four months of anti-TB treatment than the other groups. Vitamin D had no effect on the time-to-sputum smear conversion (vitamin D sufficiency group: adjusted hazard ratio: 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78-2.06); vitamin D insufficiency group: adjusted hazard ratio: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.63-1.75)].

Through null effects on sputum smear conversion, vitamin D may have a beneficial effect on the increase of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells during anti-TB treatment.