Information

The study is conducted at primary health centers in DKI Jakarta. Participants will be assigned to two groups: a Standard Therapy Group, which will receive standard treatment, and a Supplementation Group, which will receive standard therapy plus daily vitamin C (500 mg) and zinc (10 mg). Assessments will be performed using Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB) examination with the Ziehl-Neelsen method at weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24.

PT Darya Varia Laboratoria Tbk

District Health Offices of 2 selected areas

Type of Study

Stakeholders Involved

Quasi-Experimental

Background

Tuberculosis remains a leading cause of death from infectious diseases worldwide. The Global Tuberculosis Report 2024 estimates 10.8 million cases in 2023, with Southeast Asia contributing the largest share. Indonesia ranks second globally, accounting for around ten percent of all cases. Most TB manifests in the lungs and spreads through respiratory droplets. Prior studies have shown that vitamin C exhibits bactericidal activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including drug-resistant strains, by inducing reactive oxygen species that damage bacterial DNA and membranes. At lower concentrations, vitamin C can also enhance the activity of first line TB drugs such as isoniazid and rifampicin.

Zinc plays an important role in metal homeostasis in M. tuberculosis. The bacterium uses transport proteins such as Rv3270 to regulate intracellular zinc and to support efflux pump activity that contributes to drug resistance. Adequate zinc status in the host may limit these bacterial mechanisms and support immune function. Given the antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties of vitamin C and zinc, their potential as adjunctive therapy has gained increasing interest.

This study aims to assess TB bacilli conversion in drug-sensitive pulmonary TB participants receiving standard therapy with additional vitamin C and zinc supplementation.