A study on role of oxidative stress and nutrients in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in a tertiary health care hospital

Background: The association between TB, oxidative stress and dietary supplements is multidirectional. The inflammation associated pathology in tuberculosis leads to the development of the free radical generation. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was selected for the study. This study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Santosh Medical College, Ghaziabad. A total of 75 subjects will be enrolled from department of respiratory medicine from Santosh hospital, Ghaziabad and were divided into 3 groups as 75 healthy individuals of either sex as controls, 75 newly diagnosed patients of pulmonary tuberculosis and 75 patients after 6 months from starting treatment. Patients with newly diagnosed tuberculosis and on anti tubercular treatment (after 6 months) belonging to age group of 18 years and above from either sex were included in this study. The data was collected from July 2020-June 2021. Results: A total of 225 patients were recruited for the study from the department of respiratory medicine. Newly diagnosed cases have significantly increased levels of MDA with values estimated as 4.59 nmol/ml as compared to the healthy subjects with value as 1.82 nmol/ml. Anti oxidant markers i.e. Serum calcium, total antioxidant capacity, Vitamin D and zinc levels were decreased with the TB patients and were raised after 6 months of ATT. Conclusion: Tuberculosis is an important health problem requiring early diagnosis for timely initiation of the therapy and control of disease transmission (RNTCP Guideline 2010). Although the available data suggest that the TB epidemic may be on the decline, the absolute number of new cases is still the highest. Anti tubercular therapy proves to be beneficial in reducing the oxidative stress and hence, the tubercular burden.