The Impacts of Nutrition on Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis can be contracted through the inhalation of or ingestion of tubercle bacilli and manifested in fever and small lesions; this, however, starts as an infection before becoming a disease. The period it takes to convert into active tuberculosis varies from one person to another. Some are affected immediately due to their low immunity, and others may become sick several years later because of a compromised immune system. 

Studies showed that infected people who do not get treatment for latent tuberculosis (presenting 5-10%) would eventually develop the disease at some point in life. People who are more at risk of developing the disease weak immune systems, such as people who have kidney disease and HIV/AIDs. Here, we will talk about risk factors and how nutrition affects the health of people with tuberculosis.  

5 Tuberculosis comorbidity and risk factors

1. TB and HIV

HIV is known to lower a person’s immune system by increasing the chances of been attacked by other opportunistic diseases such as tuberculosis. The chances of developing TB when infected with HIV are very high compared to those not infected. TB remains one of the most persistent illnesses for people living with HIV and remains the most common cause of death.

 According to reports from the World health organization (WHO), in 2018, an estimation of 251,000 deaths was recorded due to TB. And that the most affected area was Sub-Saharan Africa recording about 84% of death attributed to TB. 

2. TB and Diabetes

Diabetes is known to cause elevated glucose levels in the body; this can put a person at risk of developing TB due to its possibility of affecting the immune system. Hence, people with this condition remain at higher susceptibility to being infected by TB. TB is also known to worsen the control of the level of blood glucose in the body among people who have diabetes.

3. TB and Nutrition

TB and malnutrition are mostly assumed to be relative because, if malnutrition set in, a person is at higher risk of getting the disease due to suppressed immune system. And tuberculosis can easily set a person to malnutrition due to the ways the body responds to it.

4. TB and Tobacco smoking

Smoking is known to cause diseases such as lung cancer among smokers, and the onset of such illnesses among these individuals, causes a decrease in the body’s system to fight any disease. This increases their risk of developing tuberculosis compared to non-smokers. 

5. TB and Alcohol consumption

Increased alcohol intake leads to a reduced level of immunity in the body to fight against diseases and infections. Consuming alcohol put you at risk of developing the disease. Studies discovered that countries with a high percentage of alcohol consumers have a high number of TB cases. Including countries that are behind in terms of development and economic growth. People at higher risk of developing tuberculosis are;

1. Persons who recently became infected with the bacteria such as;

• Health professionals attending to TB patients
• Immigrants from areas with high rates of TB cases.
• Children below five years of age.
• Close contacts of people infected with TB.
• Disadvantaged groups in society such as homeless people and drug abusers.

2. People with medical conditions that lower the body immunity such as;

• Cancer patients
• Low body weight
• Severe kidney disease
• Those infected with HIV
• Those who abuse drugs

Nutritional factors that increase the risk of tuberculosis

Food consumed helps in the body’s functions and maintaining health, this is possible through nutrients located within the food. These nutrients play different roles in the body including immunomodulatory effects, to control infections, inflammation, and nutritional deficiencies. These can be interrupted by complications such as protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency. 

The complications increase a person’s chances of getting infections or diseases due to their capability to lower the body’s immune system. Hence, giving an infection the support to progress and become a disease.

With the onset of such complications in the body, the capacity of the immune system to successfully fight any infection remains low because of reduced host response and the virulence of the organisms, including the degree and the pattern of tissue loss. 

This is evident among people infected with tuberculosis through loss of appetite, nutrient malabsorption, and altered metabolism leading to wasting.

Protein-energy malnutrition: Due to poor diet practice among people, this condition can set in at any stage of life. It creates a change in the way the immune system will respond to infections and diseases (low immunity) by creating opportunities for external environments such as bacteria and fungi to attack the body and cause illness. A typical case in the development of TB. 

These are possible as a result of undernourishment of the body, which adversely affects the immunity of a person. Note that some of the signs and symptoms of TB include anemia, loss of lean mass, and wasting are also signs of a malnourished person. 

Micronutrients: They are known to aid in improving the immune system. Some micronutrients help in building the ‘structural building’ of the immune system, zinc, iron, and vitamins; such as vitamin D, A, and C. 

Finally, deprivation of these micronutrients can lead to impairment of a person’s immunity and increase the chance of developing a disease such as tuberculosis.

Written by Jackson Omanwa