A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL TO ASSESS VITAMIN "D" SUPPLEMENTATION EFFICACY ON SMEAR POSITIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS (PTB) PATIENTS

Objective: We aimed to determine Vitamin “D” supplementation efficacy in order to achieve earlier conversion of sputum in a deficiency of Vitamin “D” smear-positive patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Methods: Our randomized clinical trial (RCT) was carried out on 120 sputum smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients at Allied Hospital, Faisalabad (August 2016 to July 2017). Two groups were made out of random sampling technique as Group A and B. Group “A” was managed with ATT (Anti-Tuberculous Therapy); whereas, Group “B” was managed with Vit “D” Supplementation along with ATT. In the intensive phase after every fourteen days patients were managed with (100,000 IU Vit “D”) through intramuscular injection. After every second, fourth, eighth, tenth and twelfth week we repeated sputum assessment. Chi-Square test was applied for the assessment of treatment efficacy in the earlier conversion of sputum between Group A and B for the comparison of Vit “D” mean values pre and post-treatment (p ≤ 0.05). Results: Group A and B had a respective mean age of (37.18 ± 6.81) and (39.02 ± 7.56) years. We included 63 males (52.50%) and 57 females (47.50%). Group A and B had a mean value of serum Vit “D” as (17.07 ± 1.44) and (17.23 ± 2.37) as baseline values. After 12 weeks these values were (21.77 ± 2.23) and (29.24 ± 0.72) for Group A and B respectively. Positive sputum assessment was observed as 7 cases (11.7%) in A group and 1 case (1.7%) in the B group with a significant P-value of (0.028). Conclusion: In the intensive phase after every fourteen days patients were managed with (100,000 IU Vit “D”) through intramuscular injection. With the intervention of four doses, Vit “D” efficiency was improved and the conversion of sputum smear was also improved in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients. Keywords: Sputum Conversion, Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB), Vitamin D (Vit “D”) and Anti-Tuberculous Therapy (ATT)