Most people in modern societies probably do not have much to fear when it comes to TB, as that disease is very rare in the Western world. The reason I am posting this study below is that it demonstrates once again the role of vitamin E in maintaining a healthy immune system. The benefits of vitamin E have already been confirmed in humans, by showing that a 400 IU vitamin E daily helps prevent pneumonia in the elderly and also protect against viral infection.
Vitamin E can be a treatment for pneumonia
Vitamin E Dramatically Lowers Risk Of Pneumonia
While the study below tries to explain this away with the known antioxidant role of vitamin E, I think a much more likely explanation is the fact that vitamin E is a powerful estrogen antagonist and as such it helps protect/regenerate the thymus.
Reducing Estrogen Synthesis Regenerates Thymus Destroyed By Aging
Another important finding of the study below is that alpha tocopherol was the isomer most strongly associated with lower risk of TB. This matches well the other threads above. I think the protective role of gamma tocopherol is related mostly to its effects as a LOX inhibitor, but the true estrogen antagonist may be the alpha isomer. So, a person using mixed tocopherols should be able to get the best of both worlds.
Vitamin E Status Is Inversely Associated with Risk of Incident Tuberculosis Disease among Household Contacts. - PubMed - NCBI
"...RESULTS: Among 6751 HIV-negative HHCs who provided baseline blood samples, 180 developed secondary TB during follow-up. After controlling for possible confounders, we found that baseline α-tocopherol deficiency conferred increased risk of incident TB disease (adjusted OR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.50; P = 0.04). Household contacts in the lowest tertile of δ-tocopherol were also at increased risk of progression to TB disease compared to those in the highest tertile (tertile 1 compared with tertile 3, adjusted OR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.29, 4.09; P-trend = 0.005). We found no association between baseline concentration of γ-tocopherol and incident TB disease. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin E deficiency was associated with an increased risk of progression to TB disease among HHCs of index TB cases. Assessment of vitamin E status among individuals at high risk for TB disease may play a role in TB control efforts."
Is an Increased Risk of Catching Tuberculosis Related to Vitamin E Deficiency? - Medical News Bulletin | Health News and Medical Research
"...Vitamin E plays a role in protecting immune cells from oxidative damage. Animal models indicate that vitamin E deficiency impairs cell-mediated immune responses. In addition, human studies have provided evidence that vitamin E enhances the immune response by stimulating T-cell differentiation and proliferation. There is also research showing an association between various micronutrient deficiencies and active TB disease. However, few studies have assessed whether pre-existing vitamin E status is associated with a higher likelihood of catching TB from a household member. In a recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition, researchers evaluated the association between baseline plasma concentrations of three vitamin E isomers (α-tocopherol, γ -tocopherol, and δ-tocopherol) and tuberculosis disease risk."
"...They found that vitamin E deficiency in individuals was associated with an increased risk of contracting tuberculosis from household members with tuberculosis. As such, they recommend assessing the vitamin E status of these individuals and possibly providing vitamin E supplementation to help curb the spread of tuberculosis."
Vitamin E can be a treatment for pneumonia
Vitamin E Dramatically Lowers Risk Of Pneumonia
While the study below tries to explain this away with the known antioxidant role of vitamin E, I think a much more likely explanation is the fact that vitamin E is a powerful estrogen antagonist and as such it helps protect/regenerate the thymus.
Reducing Estrogen Synthesis Regenerates Thymus Destroyed By Aging
Another important finding of the study below is that alpha tocopherol was the isomer most strongly associated with lower risk of TB. This matches well the other threads above. I think the protective role of gamma tocopherol is related mostly to its effects as a LOX inhibitor, but the true estrogen antagonist may be the alpha isomer. So, a person using mixed tocopherols should be able to get the best of both worlds.
Vitamin E Status Is Inversely Associated with Risk of Incident Tuberculosis Disease among Household Contacts. - PubMed - NCBI
"...RESULTS: Among 6751 HIV-negative HHCs who provided baseline blood samples, 180 developed secondary TB during follow-up. After controlling for possible confounders, we found that baseline α-tocopherol deficiency conferred increased risk of incident TB disease (adjusted OR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.50; P = 0.04). Household contacts in the lowest tertile of δ-tocopherol were also at increased risk of progression to TB disease compared to those in the highest tertile (tertile 1 compared with tertile 3, adjusted OR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.29, 4.09; P-trend = 0.005). We found no association between baseline concentration of γ-tocopherol and incident TB disease. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin E deficiency was associated with an increased risk of progression to TB disease among HHCs of index TB cases. Assessment of vitamin E status among individuals at high risk for TB disease may play a role in TB control efforts."
Is an Increased Risk of Catching Tuberculosis Related to Vitamin E Deficiency? - Medical News Bulletin | Health News and Medical Research
"...Vitamin E plays a role in protecting immune cells from oxidative damage. Animal models indicate that vitamin E deficiency impairs cell-mediated immune responses. In addition, human studies have provided evidence that vitamin E enhances the immune response by stimulating T-cell differentiation and proliferation. There is also research showing an association between various micronutrient deficiencies and active TB disease. However, few studies have assessed whether pre-existing vitamin E status is associated with a higher likelihood of catching TB from a household member. In a recent study published in The Journal of Nutrition, researchers evaluated the association between baseline plasma concentrations of three vitamin E isomers (α-tocopherol, γ -tocopherol, and δ-tocopherol) and tuberculosis disease risk."
"...They found that vitamin E deficiency in individuals was associated with an increased risk of contracting tuberculosis from household members with tuberculosis. As such, they recommend assessing the vitamin E status of these individuals and possibly providing vitamin E supplementation to help curb the spread of tuberculosis."