Authors : Chandrakala Janghe & Nanda Gurwara
Page Nos : 143-148
Description :
Efficacy of egg and amla supplementation to enhance nutritional status of pulmonary tuberculosis patients has been documented. Majority of studies in relation explored the relation between nutritional status and dietary supplementation in the light of body mass index. Another alternative to assess nutritional status is in the form of mid upper arm circumference. The present study is an effort in this direction to assess the impact of protein and vitamin C supplementation on nutritional status as assessed by mid upper arm circumference in pulmonary tuberculosis patients. The sample comprise of 300 male pulmonary tuberculosis patients divided into two groups with equal number of subjects in each group. The selection of sample was done from primary health centres operational in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh. Supplementation of protein and vitamin C was given to subjects belonging to experimental group in the form of amla and egg for a period of three months. The measurement of mid upper arm values were taken prior to commencement of the study period as well as after the completion of three months study period. For the purpose of classification, 26-29 cm was considered as reference value for Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC). Values below 26 were considered as malnourished. The frequency distribution shows that in the period of three months of study period, malnutrition as assessed by mid upper arm circumference in male pulmonary tuberculosis patient belonging to experimental and control group has decreased but in varying magnitude. Before the commencement of dietary supplementation eggs and amla of certain amount in week for three months, 22% selected male pulmonary tuberculosis patients had normal nutritional status which increased to 32% post dietary supplementation program. Before the commencement of study period, 11.3% selected male pulmonary tuberculosis patients from control group had normal nutritional status which increased to 16.7% after the study period of three months. The results once again show the efficacy of additional dietary supplementation of eggs and amla in improving the nutritional status as assessed by mid upper arm circumference of male pulmonary tuberculosis patients as compared to male pulmonary tuberculosis patients from placebo controls.
