Micronutrient supplementation improves quality of life in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

Objectives:
The goal of this review article is to determine the effectiveness of micronutrients in the cure and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Study design:
This review article included a total of 16 RCTs (receiving oral micronutrients for at least 4 weeks compared with placebo) with 4,398 people.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found zinc supplementation did not significantly reduced mortality [MD = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.00 to 0.08] in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

The investigators found zinc supplementation significantly increased muscle mass index [MD = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.04 to 2.36] in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

The investigators found zinc supplementation significantly increased weight [MD = 3.10, 95% CI = 0.66 to 5.54] in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

The investigators found zinc plus A supplementation significantly increased weight [MD = 3.10, 95% CI = 2.78 to 3.42] in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

The investigators found zinc plus A supplementation significantly improved karnofsky scale [MD = 2.50, 95% CI = 2.22 to 2.78] in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

The investigators found vitamin D supplementation accelerated the sputum conversión time [RD = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.03 to 0.73] in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

The investigators found hemoglobin (Hb) with vitamin A and zinc achieved statistically significant changes [MD = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.28 to 1.09] and [MD = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.21 to 0.83] and reduced area of cavitations in chest X-ray [MD = -0.33, 95% CI = -0.60 to -0.06] in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

The investigators concluded micronutrient supplementation could achieve weight gain, hemoglobin, accelerated sputum conversion and improvement in quality of life in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. There are no changes in mortality that may be attributable to the suboptimal dose, larger studies are suggested with adequate doses.

Original title:
Effectiveness of micronutrients supplement in patients with active tuberculosis on treatment: Systematic review/Meta-analysis by Cabrera Andrade BK and Garcia-Perdomo HA.

Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31987251

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on food fortification/malnutrition, vitamin A and D and zinc right here.