Oxidative Stress and Lipid Profile Status in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients in South Western Nigeria

Malnutrition and increased free radicals generation are common findings with tuberculosis patients and these can impair their antioxidant capacity. The present study was carried out to estimate the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants: albumin, vitamin C and E, selenium and lipid fractions in sixty–five (M = 29; F = 36) newly diagnosed (untreated) adult active tuberculosis (TB) patients and to compare them with the levels in fifty (M = 25; F = 25) apparently healthy tuberculosis free individuals of the same age group and location. Lipid fractions, MDA, albumin, vitamins C and E were estimated by standard spectrophotometric methods while selenium concentration was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. There was a significantly increased concentration of MDA (P u003c 0.001) in TB patients when compared with the control subjects and significantly reduced concentrations of albumin, vitamin C and E, selenium, total–cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol (P u003c 0.001in each case) and triglyceride (P u003c 0.01) were observed when the TB patients were compared with non TB infected individuals. The study showed that TB patients are predisposed to oxidative stress and reduced concentrations of lipid fractions. Highly nutritious diet fortified with antioxidants supplements is advocated for TB patients alongside chemotherapeutic management and their lipid fractions status should be monitored while managing the patients.