Vitamin A levels in sputum-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in comparison with household contacts and healthy 'normals'

Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2004 Sep;8(9):1130-3.

Abstract

Objective: To estimate serum vitamin A in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients at the start and end of anti-tuberculosis treatment.

Design: Serum vitamin A was estimated in 47 PTB patients (pre and post treatment), 46 healthy household contacts and 30 healthy 'normals'.

Results: Mean serum vitamin A in patients at the start of treatment was 21.2 microg/dl, which was significantly lower than in household contacts (42.2 microg/dl) and healthy 'normals' (48.1 microg/dl). The vitamin A levels in patients increased following treatment.

Conclusion: The low vitamin A levels observed in patients returned to normal at the end of anti-tuberculosis treatment without vitamin A supplementation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Family Health
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nutritional Status
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / pathology*
  • Vitamin A / blood*
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / epidemiology*
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / etiology*

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Vitamin A