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The effect of ultraviolet B‐induced vitamin D levels on host resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis : a pilot study in immigrant Asian adults living in the United Kingdom
Author(s) -
Yesudian Paul Devakar,
Berry Jacqueline Lesley,
Wiles Siouxsie,
Hoyle Stefan,
Young Douglas Brownlie,
Haylett Ann Katarina,
Rhodes Lesley Elizabeth,
Davies Peter
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
photodermatology, photoimmunology and photomedicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.736
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1600-0781
pISSN - 0905-4383
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2008.00339.x
Subject(s) - vitamin d and neurology , mycobacterium tuberculosis , medicine , tuberculosis , immunity , antimycobacterial , immunology , vitamin d deficiency , immune system , vitamin , physiology , pathology
Summary Asian immigrants to the United Kingdom demonstrate much higher tuberculosis rates than the indigenous population. This is postulated to be because of their low vitamin D levels, consequent upon a combination of diet and their reduced ultraviolet (UV) exposure in the United Kingdom, because vitamin D enhances antimycobacterial activity in in vitro systems. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between UVB exposure, vitamin D levels and tuberculo‐immunity in Asian immigrants in the United Kingdom. Suberythemal UVB treatments were given to eight subjects on 3 consecutive days, using broadband UVB fluorescent lamps. Blood was sampled for 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25‐OH D) and whole blood functional assays were performed for antimycobacterial immunity. The mean 25‐OH D level increased from a baseline of 11.23 ng/ml (95% CI 6.7–20.39) to 20.39 ng/ml (95% CI 16.6–20) following UVB treatment, P <0.01. However, no significant change in antimycobacterial immunity occurred following UVB exposure. This pilot study in Asian subjects with good baseline tuberculo‐immunity has not supported a role for UVB‐induced 25‐OH D in the immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis .