Effects of probiotics and Vitamin B supplementation on IFN-γ and IL-12 levels during intensive phase treatment of tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is an acute infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs. Probiotics supplementation can increase the number and activity of NK cell in peripheral blood by modulation of interleukin-12 (IL-12), thus increasing interfenon-y (IFN-γ) production by T-helper cells type 1 (Th1) response. Vitamin B₁ acts on macrophages and affects neutrophil motility. Vitamin B₆ is associated with the release of cytokines and the responsiveness of NK cells, while vitamin B₁₂ affects to lymphocytes, T-cell proliferation, CD4⁺ ratios, and NK cell activity. This study aim to analyze the effects of probiotics and vitamin B₁, B₆, B₁₂ supplementation on IFN-γ and IL-12 levels during intensive phase of antituberculosis treatment. The study was pre-post test randomised control by time series. The control group was TB patients with standard therapy of antituberculosis and vitamin B₆, while the intervention group was TB patients receiving therapy plus once daily probiotics and vitamin B₁, B₆, B₁₂ supplementation during the intensive phase. Blood samples were withdrawn at baseline, one month, and two months after therapy to measure plasma IFN-γ and IL-12 levels using the ELISA method. Twenty two patients were divided equally into two groups. There was a tendency to greater increase of IFN-γ in the first month of the intervention group, followed by a significant decline after two-month therapy (p <0.05). In both groups there was a rise in IL-12 levels after one month followed by a decrease in the second month (p>0.05). However, the percentage was higher in the supplementation group. Addition of probiotics and vitamins B₁, B₆, B₁₂ could improve immune response through IL-12 and IFN-γ modulation during intensive phase therapy.