( A new research has offered insights int...)Vitamin D May Help In Fight Against Tuberculosis,Health

A new research has offered insights into why Africans have an increased susceptibility to tuberculosis and have severe manifestation of the disease compared to whites. // Worldwide, approximately more than 8 million people are afflicted with TB and over 2 million people die due to the same every year. The disease is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. According to official sources, the incidence of TB is eight times higher in African Americans than whites.

Innate immunity is the natural ability of the body to fight specific molecules found on microorganisms. This progressive ability has been achieved through the evolutionary process. It has been known from previous studies that mice effectively combat the tubercle bacillus by production of nitric oxide in macrophages, the so-called scavenger cells of the immune system. This mechanism is however poorly understood in human beings.

Human macrophages have a set of receptors (toll like receptors) that contribute to innate immunity. It ahs now been shown that this may be to a large extent dependent on absorption, storage and utilization of Vitamin D. Stimulation of toll like receptors by specific molecules of the tubercle bacillus activates an enzyme (Cyp27B1) and Vitamin D receptors, resulting in conversion of inactive form of the vitamin to active form.

This dual activation induces cleavage of a preexistent protein to cathelicidin (a small peptide), capable of destroying TB bacilli in a test tube. This vitamin D production effect cannot take place without exposure to ultraviolet light.

African Americans have high levels of melanin, a skin pigment that absorbs UV light. This limits the intrinsic ability of vitamin D production. Consistent with the theory, in vitro culture of cells of African Americans were found to produce lowered levels of cathelicin (63%), compared to those of the whites.

The result of the present study has enabled scientists to unr
'"/>




Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Vitamin B12 can help in detecting cancers
2. Vitamins-The answer to Heart Disease?
3. Vitamin E, the latest warrior against diabetes
4. Vitamin Shields Brittle Bones
5. B Vitamin protects and lowers toxicity of Arthritis Drug
6. B Vitamin Supplementatoin Saves Money and Lives
7. Eat Vitamin C and stay young
8. Vitamin C for the heart
9. Vitamin B for Hepatitis
10. Vitamins reduce pre-eclampsia
11. Vitamin E useful for Alzheimers