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Abstract
Deficiency of vitamin D (25-hydroxycholecalciferol) has long been concerned in activation of tuberculosis (TB). Pakistan stands fifth among 22 countries that have the highest TB incidence. Vitamin D influences the immune response to tuberculosis and vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk of tuberculosis in different populations. This study was designed to show the relationship between vitamin D level (deficiency) and risk of tuberculosis. Eighty five blood samples of tuberculosis patients were taken from District Head Quarter (DHQ) Hospital, Sargodha. ORGENTEC ELISA Kit was used for vitamin D quantification. Mean vitamin D level were 13.9± 1.68 ng/mL in control and 9.3 ±1.38 ng/mL in TB patients. Out of 85 patients 82 patients showed vitamin D level less than 12 ng/mL. Vitamin D deficiency was seen in almost 96% of patients as compared to control. Female patients (9.05±1.55 ng/mL) also have significantly lower vitamin D level as compare to male patients (9.79±1.34 ng/mL). These findings warrant further studies that the vitamin D supplementation may have the role in the treatment and prevention of tuberculosis.
Keywords: ELISA; Pakistan; Tuberculosis; Vitamin D
Introduction
Tuberculosis (TB) is a transmittable bacterial infectious disease that is top ranked among world's deadliest contagious diseases [1]. Numbers of cases of tuberculosis are increasing in all developed, underdeveloped and developing countries that shows the impact of tuberculosis on world's health [2]. Risk due to tuberculosis to global health can be easily understood by the fact that one third of world's population is infected with causative agent of TB, mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) [3]. It infects human and non-human mammals [4]. M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. affricanum, M. cannitii and M. microti and some closely related organisms make up the M. tuberculosis complex (MTB complex). The Mycobacterium tuberculosis mostly affects the lungs but can also affect any part of the body such as kidney, spine and brain [5]. In the past it was considered the leading cause of death in United States from infection [6]. Approximately 95% cases of tuberculosis occur in developing countries with highest rates seen in South East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and China [7]. Pakistan stands fifth among 22 countries that have the highest TB incidence [8]. In Pakistan estimated new cases were 510,000 emerging each year, and approximately...