Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Nov 09, 2024 3 days, 22 hours, 21 minutes ago
Medical News: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a critical global health challenge, with millions of cases reported each year. A recent study conducted in Romania explores an intriguing link between vitamin C levels and the severity and persistence of TB symptoms. The research team, composed of experts from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova and Victor Babes University Hospital, specifically investigated how vitamin C deficiencies might correlate with prolonged TB symptoms and inflammatory markers in patients.
Low Vitamin C Levels Associated with Persistent Tuberculosis Symptoms
This
Medical News report delves into these new findings, highlighting the potential for vitamin C as a supportive therapy to standard TB treatment. A total of 53 patients diagnosed with pulmonary TB were monitored, revealing compelling data about how low vitamin C levels might hinder recovery.
Research Background and Methods
The study was conducted at Victor Babes University Hospital in Craiova between January 2023 and August 2024, enrolling 53 patients with bacteriologically confirmed TB. Patients were divided based on their serum vitamin C levels, with one group having normal levels and the other showing deficiencies. Researchers collected detailed medical, demographic, and laboratory data to analyze potential links between vitamin C levels, inflammatory markers, and TB severity.
Vitamin C levels were measured using the Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) persistence was evaluated through sputum culture and microscopy both at baseline and after two months of treatment.
Key Findings: Vitamin C Levels and TB Severity
Patients with low vitamin C levels showed significantly higher baseline inflammatory markers, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), indicating a more severe inflammatory response. Specifically, those with low vitamin C had ESR levels averaging 92.63 mm/h compared to 65.11 mm/h in patients with normal levels. CRP levels showed a similar pattern, with an average of 43.89 mg/L in the low vitamin C group versus 31.19 mg/L in the normal group.
The Impact of Vitamin C Deficiency on MTB Persistence
One of the study’s most notable outcomes was the persistence of MTB in patients with vitamin C deficiencies. After 60 days of standard TB treatment, 66.67% of patients with low vitamin C levels remained culture-positive for TB, while only 26.92% in the normal vitamin C group still tested positive. This stark difference suggests that low vitamin C levels might impair the body’s ability to fight off the bacteria effectively.
The study found that smokers in the low vitamin C group had a significantly higher rate of MTB persistence than non-smokers, with an 80% persistence rate among smokers compared to 28.57% for non-smokers. Additionally, underweight patients with low vitamin C levels demonstrated an 81.82% MTB persistence rate, considerably higher than the 56.25% observed in normal-weight individuals.
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Biological Changes and Vitamin C’s Role in Recovery
Comparative data over the treatment period showed that individuals with lower vitamin C levels experienced more significant reductions in inflammatory markers than those with normal vitamin C levels. These findings suggest that a deficiency in vitamin C could exacerbate the inflammatory response, complicating recovery.
Multivariate Analysis Highlights Critical Risk Factors
A multivariate analysis revealed that low vitamin C levels significantly correlated with an elevated TB culture load, a key indicator of disease persistence. Although other factors such as smoking status and nutritional conditions did not show statistically significant effects, their positive coefficients suggest potential influences on TB persistence.
Potential Implications for Vitamin C as a TB Therapy Adjunct
The study supports existing research highlighting vitamin C’s bactericidal properties against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Through the Fenton reaction, vitamin C has been shown to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can damage TB bacterial DNA and inhibit bacterial growth. Such findings underscore the possible benefits of incorporating vitamin C into TB treatment protocols, particularly for patients with deficiencies who are also smokers or malnourished.
Conclusion: Should Vitamin C Supplementation Become a Standard Part of TB Treatment?
In light of these findings, researchers recommend further exploration into vitamin C supplementation as an adjunct therapy for TB. Given the high MTB persistence rates in patients with low vitamin C levels, addressing this deficiency might improve treatment outcomes, reduce inflammatory responses, and enhance the effectiveness of standard TB medications.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Clinical Medicine.
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/22/6715
For the latest on Tuberculosis, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/over-8-2-million-people-infected-with-tuberculosis-in-2023-resulting-in-1-25-million-deaths
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/how-tuberculosis-manipulates-human-genes-for-survival
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/tuberculosis-tb-news
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