Vitamin D accelerates clinical recovery from tuberculosis: results of the SUCCINCT Study [Supplementary Cholecalciferol in recovery from tuberculosis]. A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of vitamin D supplementation in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis’

Randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled trial enrolling consecutive adults (≥16 years) with smear-positive active pulmonary tuberculosis. Exclusions included extrapulmonary TB, HIV infection, hepatic disease, renal failure, malignancy, diabetes mellitus, pregnancy, sarcoidosis, hyperparathyroidism, or use of corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, thiazide diuretics, or drugs known to interfere with vitamin D. All participants received Directly Observed Therapy (DOTS) with standard anti-tuberculous treatment.

Two intramuscular injections of vitamin D3, 600,000 IU each, given one month apart (enrolment and at 4 weeks).

Vitamin D3 supplementation with standard anti-TB therapy led to greater weight gain at 12 weeks (+3.75 kg vs +2.61 kg; p=0.009) and reduced residual disease on chest radiographs (fewer lung zones involved: 1.35 vs 1.82; p=0.004). 50%+ cavity-size reduction occurred in 89.8% vs 94.8% (p=0.035). MTBs-induced IFN-γ responses increased after 12 weeks in participants with deficient baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D who received vitamin D (p=0.021); no overall difference in sputum conversion, though post-hoc analysis suggested greater TB severity-score improvements in those with lower baseline vitamin D. Conclude that high-dose vitamin D3 as an adjunct to TB therapy can improve clinical and radiographic recovery, particularly in deficient individuals, indicating a potential therapeutic role for vitamin D in TB.

Not followed to end of TB treatment (6 months); no dietary intake data collected.