Role of vitamin-D supplementation in TB/HIV co-infected patients

Objective: This review aimed to assess the role of vitamin D supplementation on the decrement of mortality and morbidity rate among tuberculosis (TB)/human immune deficiency virus (HIV) co-infected clients. Method: Pub Med, google scholar and google search were accessed to find out all document to describe this review article. Results: Nowadays TB/HIV co-infection has become a major global concern, particularly in low and middle-income countries. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and HIV infections are co-endemic and more susceptible to the progression of TB. Immunosuppression associated with HIV is a strong risk factor for the reactivation of latent TB to the active form. Immune cells like macrophages recognized Mycobacterium tuberculosis through TLR2/1, and it increases the expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and CYP27B1. The synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D promotes VDR-mediated transactivation of the antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin and the killing of intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Cathelicidins have a direct antimicrobial effect through membrane disruption. Besides, it has also antiviral effects via inhibition of retrovirus (HIV) replication. In fact, as some studies showed, there was a lower induction of cathelicidin in monocytes who have low vitamin D levels. Conclusion: Therefore, vitamin D supplementation can be directly involved in the reduction of TB/HIV co-infection and its progression.