Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in adult tuberculosis patients at a central hospital in Malawi

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is associated with impaired mycobacterial immunity and susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB). We measured 25 hydroxy vitamin D levels in 161 adult TB patients at a central hospital in Malawi, of whom 120 (74.5%) had <= 75 nmol/l (hypovitaminosis D), 68 (42%) had <= 50 nmol/l (VDD) and 13.6% of inpatients and 6.8% of out-patients had <= 25 nmol/l (severe VDD). In-patients had lower body mass index (BMI; 19.0 vs. 20.5, P < 0.004), and vitamin D levels were lower in those with BMI < 20. However, on multiple regression analysis in-patient status and BMI were not associated with vitamin D level. We conclude that VDD is common in adult TB patients in Malawi. In this small sample, it was not possible to identify any independent associations of VDD.