Micronutrient Status and Immune Function in Tuberculosisa

Abstract

Both macro- and micronutrients have been shown to affect resistance to tuberculosis, which is mediated by macrophages activated by T lymphocytes. Others have demonstrated inhibition of mycobacterial replication in macrophage cultures treated with vitamin D or retinoic acid. We examined the influence of dietary zinc and vitamin D on resistance to tuberculosis. Guinea pigs were fed diets containing varying levels of zinc or vitamin D, and infected 6 weeks later by the respiratory route with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Zinc-deficient guinea pigs had fewer circulating T cells and reduced tuberculin (PPD) hypersensitivity. The response of peritoneal exudate macrophages to the lymphokine MIF was impaired. Zinc deprivation did not influence disease resistance in BCG-vaccinated or nonvaccinated animals. Vitamin D deficiency adversely affected the tuberculin reaction and ability to control the infection. Lymphocytes from vitamin D-deprived animals did not proliferate normally when cultured with PPD. A diet supplemented with vitamin D enhanced T cell responses to PPD in vivo. These results suggest that zinc and vitamin D status affect immunity to tuberculosis.

Breastfeeding and vitamin D status in Greece during the first 6 months of life

“…This information becomes important in view of increasing evidence that except for the well known effects of vitamin D on bone metabolism and growth, its deficiency may have other adverse effects like increasing susceptibility to tuberculosis and other infectious diseases [23,24,29] dental caries [25] and autoimmune diseases such as diabetes [5]. There is also evidence that symptomatic hypocalcaemia is eliminated within 48 h after birth in babies whose mothers had been supplemented during the last trimester of pregnancy [2].…”

Vitamin A Status: Relationship to Immunity and the Antibody Response

“…It is known that malnourished individuals vaccinated with Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine do not respond normally to skin tests with purified protein derivative, but the mechanisms that decrease host response to vaccination or to tubercular infection are unknown. McMurray et al (61) identified four studies in the early literature (1923 through 1961) in which vitamin A deficiency in humans or animals exacerbated tubercular disease. However, no recent studies, particularly on antibody production, have added to this literature.…”

“…Some of the apparent differences in outcome might·be resolved by exploring the antibody response in animals with more marginal forms of vitamin A deficiency and by use in the future of more reliable estimates of vitamin A status in human studies. (61) have recently VITAMIN A AND IMMUNITY reviewed the literature on micronutrient status and immune function in tuberculosis. MycobacterizlJ11 tuberculosis infection remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among malnourished children, and reactivation of disease later in life may be related to, or a cause of, poor nutritional status.…”

Comparative study of serum copper, zinc, Cu/Zn ratio in pulmonary tuberculosis patients with normal subjects

“…The two important micro nutrients, namely Zinc and Copper play distinctive role in the pathophysiological process of Tuberculosis. [3][4][5] Several studies have been done to study the influence of these individual risk factors on the pathophysiology of tuberculosis. However, very few studies have been done to study the correlation between these risk factors in pulmonary tuberculosis.…”