The Potential Role of Vitamin D in the Development of Tuberculosis in Chinese Han Population: One Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Spinal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25[OH]D] status plays an important role in mediating innate immune responses by acting as a cofactor for induction of antimycobacterial activity and is thus involved in the development of Tuberculosis (TB). Results reported regarding the association of vitamin D with TB remained controversial. We aimed to identify any common association between 25[OH]D status and TB in the Chinese Han population. METHODS: 280 subjects (70 TB patients and 210 matched controls) were recruited. TB cases were diagnosed based on the presence of acid-fast bacilli on smears from sputum and MTB isolation. Healthy controls were randomly selected from four local community-based populations. 25[OH]D was detected by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) on Roche Elecsys before the initial treatment. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association of Vitamin D with TB. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the serum vitamin D level between total cases and controls, but we found a strong tendency toward a higher serum vitamin D level in male population (P < 0.05) with TB but not in females. High serum vitamin D increased the risk of TB in the Chinese Han population (OR = 1.035, 95%CI: 1.001–1.070, P < 0.05). The serum vitamin D level was significantly decreased with age increasing in cases and controls (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: High serum vitamin D may be an independent risk factor for TB in the Chinese Han population.