Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis is a major public health problem worldwide. One third population of world is infected with M. tuberculosis. Zinc is micro-mineral essential for human growth, development and immune function. Deficiency of this micronutrient impairs overall immune function and resistance to infection. Present study was conducted to evaluate the level of serum zinc in patients with tuberculosis at various period of treatment. METHODS: Total 92 subjects included were evaluated from OPD, IPD and DOTS centre of MGM group of Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, India. Among them there were 50 patients with Tuberculosis and 42 normal healthy controls. In all the subject estimation of Zinc was carried out. Out of 50 tuberculosis patients, 31 patients were assessed for zinc after two months and six months (i.e. completion) of DOTS therapy. The assessment was done according to the cut off values of serum zinc i.e. 60- 120 µgm/dl. RESULTS: Serum zinc levels were significantly low (p<0.001) in study group as compared to the healthy control. Serum zinc concentration of the patients increased gradually after anti-tuberculous therapy and reached normal levels after completion of therapy. CONCLUSION: In the present study serum zinc levels of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was found low as compared to healthy control subjects. Supplement of zinc during the treatment can be important for the betterment of the treatment of this disease. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jucms.v1i3.8751 Journal of Universal College of Medical Sciences Vol.1(3) 2013: 15-17
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