Association Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Tuberculosis among HIV-Negative Individuals: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease mainly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). It is associated with several factors, with vitamin D deficiency being a focus of current research. This systematic review aims to compare plasma vitamin D levels between TB cases and controls and examine the association between vitamin D deficiency and TB risk in HIV-negative participants through meta-analysis.

This study, registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024518012) and conducted per PRISMA guidelines, analyzed the association between vitamin D deficiency and tuberculosis. Searches were conducted in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science for studies up to March 8, 2024. Two independent reviewers screened articles, extracted data, and assessed bias. A random-effects model and R software were used for statistical analyses, with significance set at P < 0.05.

We identified 2168 articles, and only 9 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were retained for our systematic review and meta-analysis. Sample sizes ranged from 33 to 520 participants. We found a mean difference of -6.58 ng/ml in 25(OH)D levels, indicating consistently lower levels in TB patients compared to controls (p<0.0001) and an increased risk of TB associated with VDD with a pooled OR of 2.11 (95% CI: 1.50 to 2.98), p=0.09.

This study highlights lower 25(OH)D levels in TB patients and the association between vitamin D deficiency and increased TB risk, emphasizing the need for further research, standardized clinical trials, and preventive supplementation protocols.

CRD42024518012