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Key Points

The WHO has officially recognized an ICMR-funded study proving nutritional support significantly reduces TB cases. Conducted in Jharkhand, the research demonstrated a 39-48% drop in TB incidence among supplemented households. This breakthrough has now been integrated into WHO's global TB control guidelines. India's biosocial approach sets a new standard for combating TB and malnutrition simultaneously.

Key Points: WHO Adopts ICMR Study on Nutrition's Role in Reducing TB Cases

  • Landmark ICMR study shows 39-48% TB reduction with nutrition support
  • WHO incorporates findings into global TB guidelines
  • Research conducted on 2800 TB patients in Jharkhand
  • Nutritional aid targets both patients and household contacts
3 min read

WHO applauds ICMR-funded study on nutrition's critical role in combating TB

WHO integrates ICMR-funded research proving nutritional support reduces TB incidence by 39-48%, reshaping global TB control strategies.

"This biosocial intervention can accelerate reduction in tuberculosis incidence in countries with a TB and undernutrition syndemic. – ICMR Study"

By Shalini Bhardwaj, New Delhi, August 19

A study funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has demonstrated the powerful impact of nutritional supplementation on tuberculosis (TB) patients and their families.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has lauded the findings and incorporated them into its updated global guidance on TB control, marking a major milestone in India's contribution to global health policy.

"A landmark study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), conducted in Jharkhand, has demonstrated the powerful impact of improved nutrition in reducing tuberculosis (TB) cases and fatalities. World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised this research, incorporating its findings into updated global guidance on TB control, marking a significant milestone in India's contributions to global health policy," the ICMR said in a statement.

"In India, tuberculosis and undernutrition are syndemics with a high burden of tuberculosis coexisting with a high burden of undernutrition in patients and in the population. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of nutritional supplementation on tuberculosis incidence in household contacts of adults with microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis," said the ICMR study published by The Lancet.

"To our knowledge, this is the first randomised trial looking at the effect of nutritional support on tuberculosis incidence in household contacts, whereby the nutritional intervention was associated with a substantial (39-48%) reduction in tuberculosis incidence in the household during 2 years of follow-up. This biosocial intervention can accelerate reduction in tuberculosis incidence in countries or communities with a tuberculosis and undernutrition syndemic," the study said.

The study was conducted on 2800 patients with TB across 28 tuberculosis units of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme in four districts of Jharkhand.

"In this field-based, open-label, cluster-randomised controlled trial, we enrolled household contacts of 2800 patients with microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis across 28 tuberculosis units of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme in four districts of Jharkhand, India," the study mentioned.

"The tuberculosis units were randomly allocated 1:1 by block randomisation to the control group or the intervention group, by a statistician using computer-generated random numbers. Although microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis patients in both groups received food rations (1200 kcal, 52 grams of protein per day with micronutrients) for 6 months, only household contacts in the intervention group received monthly food rations and micronutrients (750 kcal, 23 grams of protein per day with micronutrients)," it said.

"After screening all household contacts for co-prevalent tuberculosis at baseline, all participants were followed up actively until July 31, 2022, for the primary outcome of incident tuberculosis (all forms). The ascertainment of the outcome was by independent medical staff in health services," the study added.

"We used the Cox proportional hazards model and Poisson regression via the generalised estimating equation approach to estimate unadjusted hazard ratios, adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs), and incidence rate ratios (IRRs)," it added.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As someone from Jharkhand, I've seen how malnutrition and TB go hand-in-hand. This study proves what our grandmothers always said - good food is the best medicine. Hope the ration reaches those who need it most.
A
Arjun K
While the findings are impressive, I wonder about implementation challenges. Many TB patients in rural areas struggle to access basic medicines, let alone specialized nutrition. The study needs proper follow-up action.
S
Sarah B
Fascinating research! The 39-48% reduction is remarkable. India's holistic approach combining medical and nutritional interventions could become a model for other developing nations battling TB.
K
Kavya N
My uncle suffered from TB last year. The medicines made him so weak - proper nutrition would have helped so much. This study should be shared with all government hospitals immediately!
V
Vikram M
Great work by ICMR! But will the government allocate proper budget for this? We spend crores on fancy hospitals but basic nutrition programs often get neglected. Priorities need to change.

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