Vitamin D in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis

Vitamin D was used to treat tuberculosis in the pre-antibiotic era. New insights into the immunomodulatory properties of 10,25-dihydroxyvitamin D have rekindled interest in vitamin D as an adjunct to antituberculous therapy. We describe the historical use of vitamin D in tuberculosis treatment: discuss the mechanisms by which it may modulate host response to infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis; and review three clinical trials and ten case series in which vitamin D has been used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.