India marked World Tuberculosis Day by initiating the world’s inaugural clinical trial to scientifically assess Ayurveda as a complement to standard Anti-Tuberculosis Treatment (ATT). The collaborative study, led by the Department of Biotechnology and the Ministry of Ayush, will involve 1,250 newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients from eight institutions. It aims to evaluate Ayurveda’s impact on body weight, nutritional outcomes, disease progression, quality of life, safety, and tolerability alongside standard treatment.
Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, Jitendra Singh, emphasized the study’s embodiment of a comprehensive approach by integrating biotechnology and Ayurveda, as well as fostering inter-ministerial collaboration. Professor Vaidya Rabinarayan Acharya, Director-General of CCRAS, highlighted the study’s progression through consultations, protocol finalization, and necessary approvals.
Dr. Debasisa Mohanty, Director of BRIC-NII, outlined the study’s focus on tuberculosis-associated cachexia as an immune-metabolic condition. Advanced tools like DEXA, MRI, immune profiling, metabolomics, and single-cell RNA sequencing will be utilized to comprehend changes in body composition, immune function, and energy metabolism. The study aims to evaluate the influence of integrative interventions on recovery and long-term outcomes, as per the Ministry of Science & Technology.
Minister Jitendra Singh underscored India’s significant contribution to the global TB burden, noting a 21% reduction in tuberculosis incidence over a decade to approximately 187 cases per 100,000 population in 2024. He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to achieving a TB-free India through collective efforts. India’s National TB Elimination Programme emphasizes early diagnosis, universal drug susceptibility testing, digital adherence technologies, and patient-centric care to advance TB elimination efforts.
Singh highlighted the interplay between TB and comorbidities like diabetes, stressing the need for integrated approaches in disease management. He referenced the RePORT India program, a substantial TB research consortium with enrolled TB patients and household contacts, generating evidence crucial for global policy frameworks, including WHO guidelines on nutrition and tuberculosis.
