Folic Acid and Vitamin B₁₂ in Tuberculosis

Abstract

The present investigation covered 231 tuberculous patients, 200 healthy control subjects and 65 patients of a medical ward. The folate levels in serum and whole blood proved to be lower among the tuberculous than in the control group. Oral folate clearance tests gave an abnormal result for two‐fifths of the tuberculous patients examined. Over half the number of the patients whose bone marrow was examined showed various degrees of intermediate megaloblastic changes, though none had such pronounced megaloblastic changes as are common in vitamin B 12 deficiency. The patients who had mild or obvious megaloblastic changes in bone marrow also showed lower serum folate levels than those whose bone marrow was normal showed only minimal changes. The serum folate levels, however, varied considerably within all the groups of bone marrow types. The part played by antituberculous drugs (PAS‐INH) in the folate deficiency requires continued study. The serum levels of vitamin B 12 in tuberculous patients were within the normal range.