Immunological correlation of oxidative stress markers in tuberculosis patients

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: Severe oxidative stress has been reported in tuberculosis patients because of malnutrition and poor immunity. Knowledge of the antioxidant status and its relation to lipid peroxidation in tuberculosis patients is scarce, particularly in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the serum lipid peroxidation products and total antioxidant capacity and correlate with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in tuberculosis patients. Methodology: The subjects for this study comprised of normal human volunteers (n=50) and tuberculosis patients (n=50) untreated with anti-tuberculosis therapy. In a cross-sectional study, we evaluated serum malondialdehyde (marker of lipid peroxidation), ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (marker of total antioxidant capacity) and CRP in tuberculosis patients and in healthy control subjects. Results: Total antioxidant capacity was significantly lower in tuberculosis patients than in healthy controls. Tuberculosis patients had higher malondialdehyde concentrations and high CRP than did control subjects. High malondialdehyde concentrations positively correlated with clinical severity as measured by the anthropometric scores and CRP. Conclusions: Our findings further support a link between oxidative stress and tuberculosis. However, whether antioxidant supplementation will improve tuberculosis outcome or is of importance for its prevention should be further examined in future prospective studies.