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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

An Automated Culture System for Use in Preclinical Testing of Host-Directed Therapies for Tuberculosis
Published on: August 16, 2021
Adjunctive micronutrient supplementation for pulmonary tuberculosis
Rodrigo X Armijos1, M Margaret Weigel, Rocío Chacon
1Department of Health Promotion/MPH Program, College of Health Sciences, University of Texas, El Paso, TX 79902-0581, USA. rxarmijos@utep.edu
Objective:
To assess the effect of micronutrient supplementation on tuberculosis (TB) patient outcomes.
Material And Methods:
The randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted in pulmonary TB patients undergoing directly observed treatment short course/ tratamiento acortado estrictamente supervisado (TAES/ DOTS) at IMSS in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, who were recruited during August 2005-July 2006. Consecutive patients received zinc and vitamin A supplements or matched placebo for four months. Dietary intake, blood zinc and vitamin A, immune response (IFN-gamma,TNF-alpha, and IL-10 mRNA), and sputum smear conversion were measured.
Results:
The proportion of micronutrient compared to placebo group subjects with a negative sputum smear by month 3 was significantly increased (p= 0.03). This occurred subsequent to increased TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma and decreased IL-10 observed at month 2. Micronutrient supplementation appeared to accelerate the beneficial therapeutic effect of chemotherapy.
Conclusions:
The earlier elimination of bacilli from sputum was associated with improved zinc status and Th1 immune response. The therapeutic effect of vitamin A was less evident.
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