Vitamin A
Vitamin
A is a fat-soluble vitamin that
has many roles in the body. It is
found in several foods in many
different forms. Retinol or
pre-formed vitamin A supplies
about 2/3 of the dietary intake of
vitamin A. [9]
In addition, the liver contains
the largest stored amount of
dietary retinol. Vitamin A is
needed for growth and bone
development, vision, reproduction
processes, cell production and
maturation, maintaining proper
skin integrity, and most
importantly, immune function. For
those with Tuberculosis, the
immune support that vitamin A
provides seems to improve the
outcome of drug treatment. Some
research shows that there is a
tendency for those with
Tuberculosis disease to have a
deficiency in vitamin A levels. [10]
In a study
involving 80 patients with active
Tuberculosis who were receiving
standard Tuberculosis drugs,
supplementation with vitamin A
improved the effectiveness of the
drug treatment. [11] Those receiving the
supplementation were twice as
likely to cough up and eliminate
the TB bacteria through their
sputum compared to those only
receiving the standard drug
regime. This study also showed a
reduction in abnormalities in
chest X-ray than the control
group. [12] More studies are necessary into
the effectiveness of vitamin A
supplementation on TB positive
individuals. However, the known
benefits of vitamin A on the human
immune system are reason enough to
incorporate this inexpensive
adjunctive treatment into
combating Tuberculosis.
Beta Sitosterol
Beta
Sitosterol is a plant compound
similar to cholesterol. Although
the average diet provides small
amounts, absorption is not very
high and thus doesn't share any of
the negative health effects
associated with excess cholesterol
consumption. Beta
Sistosterol actually plays
more of a regulating effect,
inhibiting cholesterol when
consumed in
excess and provoking the liver to
increase production when
cholesterol is in lower amounts. Evidence suggests that beta sitosterol may have immuno-stimulatory
effects, and is thus helpful in
Tuberculosis disease. Taken
with a standard regimen of drugs
for Tuberculosis, research shows
that there is an increase in white
blood cell production, as well as
an increase in weight gain in
these patients. [13] White blood cell increases in
number and mobility are key to
fighting infectious processes of
any kind.
Vitamin D
Vitamin
D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is
involved in many processes in the
body. Besides its role in building
bone mass and preventing bone
loss, protecting against muscle
weakness, and promoting strong
teeth, it also enhances immune
function. Because susceptibility
to disease partially depends on
one's immune status, low levels of
vitamin D may make one more likely
to manifest Tuberculosis. Usually,
vitamin D metabolism leads to an
increased ability of the immune
system to restrict intracellular
growth of the Tuberculosis
bacteria. A study involving
Gujarati Asians in west London who
tested positive for Tuberculosis showed decreased levels of vitamin
D, which investigators suspected
might have contributed to the high
occurrence level of Tuberculosis
in this population. [14]
In a mammalian study
investigating the role of vitamin
D in Tuberculosis disease,
pigs were given vitamin D in their
feed then injected six weeks later
with the Tuberculosis bacteria. Results showed that in those that
were vitamin D deficient, there
was an adverse effect on the
tuberculin reaction and decreased
the ability to control the
infection, implying that vitamin D
status is influential in
Tuberculosis immunity. [15] Similar to vitamin A,
supplementation with vitamin D is
a highly cost effective adjunctive
therapy for Tuberculosis.
Zinc
Zinc is
the second most abundant trace
mineral in the body. It is a
cofactor in many biological
processes within the body, including
synthesis of RNA and DNA. It
participates in wound healing,
reproductive processes, taste,
smell, hormone production, and many
processes involving growth and
development. [16] Zinc's role in immune function is
highly important. Studies show
that it has a positive influence
on Tuberculosis disease.
In the same abovementioned study involving vitamin
A, zinc seems to have a positive
effect on Tuberculosis disease
outcome when combined with a
standard drug regimen. The study
involved newly diagnosed patients
with Tuberculosis; at the
conclusion of the study, it was
determined that zinc
supplementation improved the
effectiveness of
anti-tuberculosis treatment. [17]
Allium sativum
(Garlic)
Garlic
is a member of the lily family and
is cultivated throughout the world.
Its medicinal use dates back many
centuries to various parts of the
world, including China and Egypt.
Is is thought that the volatile oils
of Garlic are responsible for its
pharmacological effects. In
fact, the
famous Greek physician Hippocrates
prescribed garlic for the
treatment of cancer.
As far back
as 1944, American studies show the
antimicrobial effects of garlic on
certain bacteria. [18] Concerning Tuberculosis disease,
research suggests that garlic has
an inhibitory effect on four
different strains of Mycobacterium
tuberculosis, the bacteria that
causes Tuberculosis disease. [19] Another study discussed the
various concentrations of garlic
needed to inhibit certain strains
of Mycobacterium, reinforcing the
role if garlic in Tuberculosis
adjunctive treatment. [20]
Standard
Tuberculosis treatment can
provide much greater efficacy
when natural medicines with proven
immune-stimulating functions are
employed. Additionally, in those
with latent Tuberculosis, a
protocol using natural medicines
may serve to greatly improve
patient outcomes.
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