Vitamin D in Patients with Tuberculosis or TB/HIV coinfection in Tanzania

This study was conducted to examine vitamin D status in adults with tuberculosis (TB) or TB/HIV co‐infection enrolled in a vitamin supplementation trial (excluding D) in Tanzania and its relationship with mortality, HIV disease progression, and relapse during follow‐up. Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured using mass spectrometry. Binomial and Cox regression methods were used to analyze the associations between vitamin D and outcomes. 62% of patients had low vitamin D status (<30 ng/mL) and 16% were deficient (<20 ng/mL). Hemoglobin levels, CD4 T‐cell counts, and money spent on food were significant correlates of low vitamin D status. In longitudinal analyses, there was no significant relationship between vitamin D status and mortality or HIV disease progression. However, patients with low vitamin D levels had 66% higher risk of relapse during follow‐up (95% CI: 1.04–2.64; p=0.03; adjusted for age, Karnofsky score, hemoglobin, CD4 T‐cell counts, HIV status, viral load, and treatment regimen). In HIV‐uninfected individuals, the risk of relapse was 133% higher (p<0.01). Vitamin D may have an important role in patients with TB and it needs to be examined in randomized clinical trials. Grant Funding Source : NIH NIAID U01AI045441