Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin D
For the health condition: Leprosy

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin D has a biologically plausible role in the support and treatment of leprosy, but the level of evidence is moderate to low. Vitamin D is known to modulate immune function, particularly by enhancing the microbial killing capacity of macrophages, which are critical in the body’s defense against Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium that causes leprosy. Several laboratory studies have demonstrated that vitamin D can induce the expression of antimicrobial peptides, such as cathelicidin, in macrophages, leading to improved control of mycobacterial infections. Observational studies have reported lower serum vitamin D levels in patients with leprosy, especially the more severe, multibacillary forms, compared to healthy controls. Additionally, certain genetic polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor have been linked to susceptibility to leprosy and its clinical forms. However, large-scale, randomized clinical trials directly evaluating vitamin D supplementation as a treatment or adjunct therapy for leprosy are lacking. Current guidelines for leprosy management do not include vitamin D as a standard therapy, and most evidence comes from small studies or indirect immunological reasoning. In summary, while there is scientific rationale and some preliminary evidence for the role of vitamin D in immune support for leprosy, its clinical use is not yet robustly validated or widely recommended.

More about vitamin D
More about Leprosy

Other health conditions supported by vitamin D

Acne
Allergies (food)
Allergies (respiratory)
Alzheimer's Disease
Amenorrhea
Anemia
Anorexia
Apathy
Arrhythmia
Arteriosclerosis
Arthritis
Asthma
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Backache
Birth Defects (prevention)
Body Building
Broken Bones
Calcium Deficiency
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Cardiovascular Disease
Celiac Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Concentration (poor)
Concussions
Confusion
Congestive Heart Failure
Contagious Diseases
Convalescence
Convulsions
Cramps (menstrual)
Cramps and Spasms
Crohn's Disease
Cystic Breast Disease
Cystic Fibrosis
Dandruff
Debility
Dementia
Depression
Dermatitis
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Erectile Dysfunction
Estrogen (low)
Fatigue
Fibroids (uterine)
Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Fibrosis
Grave's Disease
Grief and Sadness
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Hashimoto's Disease
Headache (cluster)
Heart (weakness)
Hypertension
Hypothyroid
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Infection (viral)
Infertility
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Influenza
Injuries
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Itching
Knees (weak)
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leprosy
Lesions
Leukemia
Lou Gehrig's Disease
Lupus
Lymphoma
Melanoma
Memory and Brain Function
Menopause
Menstrual Irregularity
Mental Illness
Metabolic Syndrome
Migraine
Miscarriage (prevention)
Mood Swings
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscle Tone (lack of)
Muscular Dystrophy
Myasthenia Gravis
Nephritis
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Numbness
Nursing
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Oral Surgery
Osteoporosis
Pain (general remedies for)
Pancreatitis
Paralysis
Parkinson's Disease
Peripheral Neuropathy
PMS (general)
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
PMS Type S
Pneumonia
Polyps
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Progesterone (low)
Prostatitis
Psoriasis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Schizophrenia
Sciatica
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Senility
Tuberculosis