Photodermatology Photoimmunology and Photomedicine
Volume 24, Issue 2, 2008, Pages 97-98

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 (Article)

Yesudian P.D.* , Berry J.L. , Wiles S. , Hoyle S. , Young D.B. , Haylett A.K. , Rhodes L.E. , Davies P.
  • a Department of Dermatology, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool Road, Chester CH2 1UL, United Kingdom
  • b Vitamin D Research Group, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
  • c Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
  • d Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
  • e Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
  • f Photobiology Unit, Dermatological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
  • g Photobiology Unit, Dermatological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
  • h Tuberculosis Research Unit, Cardiothoracic Centre, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Abstract

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. © Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Munksgaard.

Author Keywords

Ultraviolet B Vitamin D tuberculosis

Index Keywords

immigrant Asian host resistance vitamin blood level human Asia Vitamin D controlled study Mycobacterium tuberculosis priority journal Great Britain skin statistical significance Immunity, Natural Confidence interval Humans 25 hydroxyvitamin D male Tuberculosis, Pulmonary female pilot study light exposure Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation fluorescent lighting ultraviolet B radiation Article Ultraviolet Rays adult human experiment United Kingdom normal human Emigration and Immigration bacterial immunity Pilot Projects
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-41149092525&doi=10.1111%2fj.1600-0781.2008.00339.x&partnerID=40&md5=a61b6911a1ec4253ddcd0262c43b8f04
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2008.00339.x
ISSN: 09054383
Cited by: 13
Original Language: English