Randomized controlled trial to study the efficacy of Vitamin D as an adjunctive treatment along with ATT on early sputum conversion in smear positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis

This study aims to evaluate “The efficacy of vitamin D as an adjunctive treatment along with ATT on early sputum conversion in smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis”. I am conducting this study under the guidance of Dr. Sandeep Soni, Professor & Head of department, Respiratory Medicine in Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar, Punjab. This will be an open label randomized clinical study and there will be a minimum of 80 patients with smear positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis. They will be supplemented with oral doses of vitamin D3- 50,000 IU once a week for 8 weeks during the intensive phase and followed up every 14 days on day 0, 14, 28, 42, 56 with sputum smear examination, serum Vitamin D levels, Serum Calcium levels and clinical assessment. There is limited data on the efficacy of Vitamin D causing early sputum conversion in smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis and therefore this randomized clinical study aims to give evidence that would help in clinical practice and assist ongoing efforts at streamlining TB treatment.

This study addresses specific targets outlined in the END TB STRATEGY, such as decline in TB deaths, ending catastrophic costs for TB-affected households by 2035.

The study findings can contribute to achieving the milestones set by the End TB strategy, particularly in terms of reducing the burden of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis and improving treatment outcomes.