Vitamin A Supplementation for Modulation of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Immune Responses in Latent Tuberculosis

In populations with high prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), malnutrition (PEM) may influence incident rates of TB. PEM and specific micronutrient deficiencies compromise cell mediated immunity (CMI) and increase susceptibility to, or severity of infections. Vitamin A supplementation significantly reduces all-cause child mortality. The mechanism of the benefits of supplementation on clinical outcomes is largely unknown, but is likely to be related to an influence on the immune system. Vitamin A supplementation promotes lymphogenesis and induces a higher proportion of CD4 naïve T-cells in children. Most cases of LTBI that progress to active disease are vitamin A deficient. Vitamin A deficiency is common in most TB endemic countries. At the MRC, 32% of TBCC contacts were vitamin A deficient. Hypothesis: The investigators plan to test the hypotheses: that supplementation with vitamin A will affect the magnitude and quality of immune responses to mycobacterial antigens and progression to clinical disease.