Tuberculosis, or TB, is a bacterial disease which occurs in latent and active forms. A person with latent TB may have no symptoms but is carrying the TB bacteria in his respiratory system. A person with active TB is infectious to others and may have symptoms including a persistent cough or coughing up blood. You cannot treat or cure TB with food alone -- anti-TB medications are necessary to kill the bacteria. However, certain foods and dietary supplements may be beneficial as a complementary therapy while taking medication to treat TB. Tuberculosis is a serious disease, and you should consult a medical professional rather than attempting self-diagnosis or treatment.
Drug Treatment for TB
Tuberculosis is treated with one or more drugs prescribed by a doctor. If you have latent or symptomless TB, you will likely be prescribed a course of drugs to take over a period of six months to a year. If your TB is active, a public health official may be required to monitor your intake of prescription drugs to treat your TB. Some of the drugs most commonly used to treat TB include isoniazid, streptomycin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide and rifampin. These drugs may be used alone or in combination.
Complementary Nutritional Therapies
Tuberculosis bacteria can only be killed by prescription medications. Certain nutritional therapies may be useful in alleviating the symptoms and risks associated with TB, but nutritional therapy should never be attempted without prescription medication for TB. According to an article published in 2011 by the University of Maryland Medical Center, increasing your intake of iron and B-vitamins can be helpful as a complementary nutritional therapy. Increasing your intake of antioxidant foods and vegetables also can be helpful.
Elimination
Eliminating certain foods from your diet may reduce your symptoms while you are being treated for TB with prescription medication. Eliminate all potential or suspected allergen foods from your diet. Common food allergens include dairy, corn, soy, food preservatives and food additives. Refined foods and simple carbohydrates should be avoided, and you should eliminate or at least reduce your intake of trans-fatty acids. Alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and other stimulants also should be eliminated from your diet.
Dietary Supplements
Certain vitamins and supplements may help alleviate symptoms and risks associated with TB, or they may work to counteract nutritional deficiencies stemming from the disease or from the medications used to treat TB. A daily multivitamin, including the antioxidant vitamins -- vitamins A, C, D and E -- are recommended by UMMC. Additionally, you could consider taking B-complex vitamin supplements, together with calcium, zinc, selenium and magnesium. Vitamin D supplements may be helpful as a preventative measure -- populations with low vitamin D levels are believed to be more susceptible to developing TB.
