Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin D3
For the health condition: Tuberculosis

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

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

Vitamin D3 has a scientific rationale for use in tuberculosis (TB) based on immunological mechanisms and historical observations, but robust clinical evidence supporting its efficacy as a treatment adjunct is limited. Historically, sunlight exposure (which induces vitamin D synthesis) and cod liver oil (a source of vitamin D) were used in sanatoria for TB patients in the pre-antibiotic era. These practices were based on empirical observation that sunlight improved outcomes. Modern scientific research has elucidated that vitamin D plays a role in innate immunity: it stimulates the production of antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidin in macrophages, which can inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB. Several observational studies have found that vitamin D deficiency is common in TB patients and may be associated with increased susceptibility to active disease. However, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) testing vitamin D supplementation as an adjunct to standard TB therapy have produced mixed results. Some studies report modest benefits in terms of faster sputum conversion or reduced inflammation, while others show no significant effect on clinical outcomes. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses generally conclude that, while vitamin D is safe, its benefit as adjunctive therapy is not conclusively demonstrated. Thus, the use of vitamin D3 for TB is justified by biological plausibility and some supportive data, but the strength of evidence is moderate to low and does not support routine use at this time.

More about vitamin D3
More about Tuberculosis