Tuberculosis and nutrition: How diet plays a role in treatment and recovery

From eggs and fishes to pulses and cottage cheese, know the food items that can help in boosting immunity and speeding up recovery from tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis, a contagious bacterial disease, is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It affects the lungs and spreads through the air, especially when an affected person sneezes, coughs or spits. However, the role of nutrition in tuberculosis treatment is very underrated.

The role of nutrition in tuberculosis treatment is very underrated.(AP)

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr. Rishabh Raj, consultant chest medicine and critical care, K J Somaiya Hospital & Research Centre said, “Malnutrition is one of the important risk factors that leads to development of tuberculosis. A poor nutritional intake results in lower immunity which can make the patient prone to developing the disease and also slowing the recovery.”

Importance of nutrition in treating tuberculosis:

“A healthy diet is paramount for patients to recover from tuberculosis. A diet rich in protein helps build immunity against the tubercle bacilli and provides an important support in healing. A healthy diet also provides a natural source of vitamins and micronutrients which help in better tolerance of anti-tubercular therapy,” added Dr Rishabh Raj.

Dietary practices to support recovery from tuberculosis:

• High protein intake is a must for patients suffering from tuberculosis, with a recommended protein intake of 1 gram per kilogram of body weight per day.
• For people who consume non-vegetarian food, the diet should contain eggs, white meat and fish.
• Red meat should be consumed in moderation as it can result in increased uric acid levels which leads to side effects with the anti-tubercular medications.
• For vegetarians, the diet should be rich in green leafy vegetables, pulses, soya, cottage cheese.
• People can also consider taking vitamin supplementation in the form of multi vitamin tablets with special emphasis on vitamin B6.
• Patients are not able to consume a lot of food at once due to the ongoing anti-tubercular therapy. Thus, they are counselled to have small but frequent meals which are rich in protein and nutrients.
• Alcohol and smoking should be strictly avoided during the course of treatment.

A healthy diet can support tuberculosis recovery.(Photo by Pixabay)

How nutrition can be added to tuberculosis treatment?

• Patients suffering from tuberculosis can be provided with protein powder along with the anti-tubercular therapy to supplement the increased protein requirement.
• All patients should be counselled about the need for a healthy diet and to focus on consuming protein rich food at frequent intervals.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.