Vitamin D supplementation as a control program against latent tuberculosis infection in Korean high school students

• Main Authors: Eun Hee Kim, Jong-Myon Bae
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Society of Epidemiology 2018-07-01
• Series: Epidemiology and Health
• Subjects: Latent tuberculosis; Disease management; Vitamin D; Antitubercular agents; Prevention and control
• Online Access: http://www.e-epih.org/upload/pdf/epih-40-e2018035.pdf

The prevalence of latnet Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in the first-grade high school students in South Korea was 2.1%, which was the lowest level at congregated settings in 2017. For LTBI cases refusing anti-tuberculosis (TB) medication or having poor compliance, additional support should be considered. Eight systematic reviews concluded that vitamin D (VD) deficiency is a risk factor for TB. While three of four South Korean adolescents were VD deficiency, VD supplementation could be a practical remedy to protect LTBI students of refusing anti-TB medication or having poor compliance.