ABSTRACT
Background: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which has posed a constant challenge to mankind in its treatment due to increasing resistance and longer duration of treatment. The newer approach is to look towards strengthening host immune system along with suppressing the organism. Aim of the study was to assess the existence of Vitamin D deficiency in TB patients and aid in the strategies and development of newer improvised approaches in the treatment of TB. Objectives of the study was to estimate vitamin D levels in Tuberculosis (pulmonary and extrapulmonary) patients, assess Correlation between vitamin D and pulmonary tuberculosis and to assess correlation between Vitamin D and extrapulmonary Tuberculosis.Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study consisted of 80 tuberculosis patients both extrapulmonary and pulmonary. Blood samples was analysed for Vitamin D levels and results were compared with age and sex matched controls. Results was analysed using SPSS software.Results: The cases included patient in the age group of 18-60 year with the mean age being 42.34�.65 year. Of the 80 tuberculosis patients 42 were diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and 38 constituted extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The mean Vitamin D in cases was 24.82�.33 and controls was 34.41�19. Among the cases 25 (31.3%) subjects had Vitamin D levels <20 pg/ml and none of the controls had levels <20 pg/ml. The mean Vitamin D level in pulmonary Tb patients was found to be 24.29�.86 pg/ml and Extra-pulmonary Tb was 25.40�.96 pg/ml. The unpaired t-test was statistically significant with p value of 0.005.Conclusions: This study has emphasized on the presence of nutritional deficiency in TB patients and necessity to correct them to achieve a better cure rate.