Improved Nutrition Reduces Tuberculosis Incidence, ICMR Study Finds

A study funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has revealed that enhanced nutrition significantly reduces the incidence and mortality rates of tuberculosis (TB). The findings have been acknowledged by the World Health Organization (WHO), which has incorporated them into its updated global guidance on TB control.

The research aimed to evaluate the effects of nutritional supplementation on TB occurrence among household contacts of adults with microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis. The study involved 2,800 individuals who were household contacts of TB patients across 28 units of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme in four districts of Jharkhand.

Published in The Lancet, the study highlights the interplay between tuberculosis and undernutrition in India, where both health issues coexist at alarming rates. The ICMR reported on August 7, 2023, that the WHO has recognized this important research, underscoring its relevance in global health strategies.

Study Design and Results

In the study, household contacts of TB patients received food rations for six months. However, only those in the intervention group received additional monthly food rations and micronutrients. Researchers actively followed up with participants until July 31, 2022, to measure the primary outcome of incident tuberculosis.

From August 16, 2019, to January 31, 2021, there were a total of 10,345 household contacts. Of these, 5,328 (94.8 percent) in the intervention group and 4,283 (90.7 percent) in the control group completed the primary outcome assessment. Notably, nearly two-thirds of the participants belonged to indigenous communities, including the Santhals, Ho, Munda, Oraon, and Bhumij, with 34 percent experiencing undernutrition.

The researchers stated, “To our knowledge, this is the first randomized trial looking at the effect of nutritional support on tuberculosis incidence in household contacts, whereby the nutritional intervention was associated with a substantial reduction in tuberculosis incidence in the household during two years of follow-up.”

Implications for Global Health

The study’s findings suggest that nutritional interventions could play a crucial role in reducing TB incidence, especially in regions where TB and undernutrition are prevalent. This biosocial approach may provide a pathway for accelerating TB reduction in various countries and communities facing similar health challenges.

The recognition of this research by the WHO is a significant step toward integrating nutritional support into TB control strategies worldwide. By addressing both nutritional deficiencies and TB, health authorities can enhance the effectiveness of their interventions and improve overall public health outcomes.