Vitamin C status and associated biochemical alterations in tuberculosis patients: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global public health concern and is among the leading causes of mortality from infectious diseases worldwide. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) plays an important role in host defense through its antioxidant properties, immune modulation, and protective activity against pathogenic infections. The present cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the impact of tuberculosis infection on serum vitamin C levels and selected biochemical parameters in TB patients. Serum ascorbic acid concentrations and other biochemical markers were measured using standard biochemical techniques. The results demonstrated significantly reduced levels (p < 0.005) of vitamin C (0.24 ± 0.01 mg/dL), total cholesterol (124.94 ± 0.80 mg/dL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (34.50 ± 0.40 mg/dL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (71.28 ± 0.61 mg/dL), very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (19.78 ± 0.17 mg/dL), triglycerides (99.88 ± 0.81 mg/dL), total serum proteins (6.75 ± 0.05 g/dL), and albumin (2.78 ± 0.03 g/dL) in tuberculosis patients compared with healthy controls. In contrast, serum globulin levels (3.97 ± 0.04 g/dL) were significantly elevated in TB patients. These findings indicate that tuberculosis infection is associated with marked alterations in vitamin C status and biochemical parameters, which may contribute to disease-related complications. Monitoring and correction of these biochemical disturbances may be important for improving clinical management and outcomes in patients with tuberculosis.