Vitamin C and D as an Adjuvant to Standard Therapy in Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Randomized Experimental Study

Background: Approximately one?quarter of the global population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This study was based on the hypothesis that supplementation with vitamin D and C when given alongside standard anti tuberculous therapy may enhance the host immunity against the disease and shorten the time required for clinical recovery. Objective: Investigate the effects of vitamin D & C as adjunct with anti-tuberculous therapy on time to clinical recovery and period of treatment in patients with active disease. Method: A total of 100 newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients were enrolled from Gulab Devi Hospital, Lahore, and were randomly assigned into two groups. The non-experimental TB patients (n=50) receiving standard anti tuberculous treatment only, while the experimental TB Patients (n=50) receiving standard anti-tuberculosis treatment with vitamin D and C. The experimental group was administered Vitamin C at a dose of 500 mg /day orally, along with 2 ampoules of 200,000-unit injection of vitamin D were given orally once monthly for 12 weeks. Clinical improvement in symptoms like cough, fever and weight of these patients were recorded. Blood samples for vitamin C, D and ESR were collected at baseline (0 weeks), 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Vitamin C levels were measured using HPLC, vitamin D using ELISA, and ESR using the Westergren method.). Chest X-rays and ESR values were used to evaluate the treatment progress in both groups and to assess the comparative effectiveness of vitamin supplementation. Results: Statistical analysis of vitamin D, vitamin C levels and ESR levels at 0, 6 and 12 weeks were performed using an independent sample t-test. The results showed a significant increase in both vitamin levels, indicated by markedly reduced ESR values and significant healing in x-ray findings in the experimental group at 12 weeks compared with the non-experimental group. At 12th week, the comparison between experimental and non-experimental groups demonstrated that levels of vitamin C, D, ESR values and X ray findings showed a p value of less than 0.05 indicating statistically significance between the groups. Conclusion: Thus, the findings of this study suggest that vitamin C & D may serve as adjunctive therapies alongside anti-tuberculous drugs in the management of pulmonary tuberculosis. Nevertheless, further research is needed to clarify their role in enhancing patients’ immune responses.