VITAMIN C AS AN ADD ON SUPPLEMENTATION TO STANDARD ANTITUBERCULAR TREATMENT IMPROVES SPUTUM SMEAR CONVERSION IN NEWLY DIAGNOSED DRUG SENSITIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS

Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of oral supplementation of Vitamin C along with standard anti-tubercular (anti TB) drugs on the sputum smear conversion in the newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients. Methods: This was a prospective, observational study in which 49 newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients were given oral vitamin C supplementation along with standard anti TB treatment during intensive phase (2 months)  of the treatment. Examination of sputum smear at the end of intensive phase of anti-tubercular treatment was done. At the end of intensive phase, comparison was done between results of sputum smear examination of study population with the TB patients of general population from the same locality who were receiving only standard anti TB treatment and not add on Vitamin C supplementation. Results: The comparison between the results of study population (Sputum conversion – 100%) with that of general population (Sputum conversion – 92.47%) shows significant difference between both the population with p value < 0.05 (p-value = 0.041). Conclusion: This study showed that Vitamin C supplementation as add on therapy to the existing standard anti TB treatment improves the sputum smear conversion and decreases the disease activity to a greater extent than routine standard anti TB treatment alone