Fermented Soybean Supplementation Among Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients With Standard Therapy in Indonesia (FSS)

Fermented Soybean Supplementation Among Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients With Standard Therapy in Indonesia

The Effect of Fermented Soybean Supplementation on the Body Weight and Physical Function of Tuberculosis Patients With Standard Therapy in Indonesia

Tuberculosis (TB) patients often have a lower body mass index (BMI) and experience wasting. Wasting reduces lean body mass and may cause physical function impairment. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of fermented soybeans (tempeh) as a food supplement on body weight and physical function changes among active pulmonary tuberculosis patients with standard therapy.

This study was carried out at the outpatient department building, lung hospital Surabaya, Indonesia. As a national health referral system in TB program, the hospital was related to four local sub district health centers that were involved in the recruitment of participants in the study. Patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis were randomly assigned into two groups, namely intervention group, which consisted of 65 participants and control group which had 64 participants. Randomization was carried out using sealed, unmarked opaque envelopes that are allocated to participants in this study. A minimum sample size of per group (n=64) was determined by Windows version G*Power 3.1.5 software to identify a mean difference in body weight change of ≥1.1 kg between intervention and control groups. The intervention group obtained the standard therapy of TB and an additional 166.5 grams of boiled tempeh daily for two months. The control group obtained only standard TB therapy. Patients in the intervention group were instructed to divide one cake tempeh into three pieces and eat them three times in a day. Consumption frequencies of supplements were recorded in a logbook by an enumerator during random visits once a week. One of the patient family members was asked to help to supervise compliance. The participants were assessed before and after the intervention period for both groups. Body weight of the participants was evaluated by measuring the change in body weight. The change of physical function was assessed by handgrip strength using a digital dynamometer and 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Protein and caloric intakes were estimated twice, measured during the first and second months using 24-hour dietary recall method during the intervention period.

TB standard therapy with fixed dose combination : once per day by mouth for 2 months Fixed dose combination = RHZE (150mg/75mg/400mg/275mg) R=rifampicin, H=isoniazid, Z=pyrazinamide, E=ethambutol, Patients with body weight: 30 - 37 kg = 2 tablets, 38 - 54 kg = 3 tablets, 55 - 70 kg = 4 tablets, and ≥71 kg = 5 tablets and 166.5 grams cooked fermented soybean (tempeh) daily for two months

TB standard therapy with fixed dose combination : once per day by mouth for 2 months Fixed dose combination = RHZE (150mg/75mg/400mg/275mg) R=rifampicin, H=isoniazid, Z=pyrazinamide, E=ethambutol, Patients with body weight: 30 - 37 kg = 2 tablets, 38 - 54 kg = 3 tablets, 55 - 70 kg = 4 tablets, and ≥71 kg = 5 tablets

Change of body weight of the participants over the two months intervention period as measured on a kilograms scale. The change was calculated from two-time points as the value at the later time point minus the value at the earlier time point. Positive numbers represent increases and negative numbers represent decreases. A higher value score in change means a better outcome on nutritional status for the patients after the study.

The change of hand-grip strength of the participants over the two months intervention period was measured on a kilograms scale. The change was calculated from two-time points as the value at the later time point minus the value at the earlier time point. Positive numbers represent increases and negative numbers represent decreases. The higher scores reflected the better physical function outcomes of the patients.

The change distance in meters scale as assessed by 6MWT according to American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2002 guidelines. The 6MWT was carried out on a track along the 30-meter corridor marked by two colored cones placed at both ends of the track alignment. The participants were asked using the standard instruction to walk at their self-selected pace back and forth between the cones as far as they could for 6 minutes. The distance taken by each participant was measured and then recorded. Instructions were given to every patient by reading a guideline with the same intonations to every patient before performing the test. The result of the 6MWT was expressed in meters. The change was calculated from two-time points as the value at the later time point minus the value at the earlier time point. Higher scores reflected better physical function outcomes.

The change in BMI was assessed by a digital weight scale and height scale (kg/m²). The formula for BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. The change was calculated from two-time points as the value at the later time point minus the value at the earlier time point. Higher scores reflected the better nutritional status results of the patients.

The average calorie intake (in kcal/day) was assessed by the 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire and calculated by NutriSurvey software version 2005, with the country-specific food database for Indonesia.

The average protein intake (in Gram/day) was assessed by the 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire and calculated using NutriSurvey software version 2005, with the country specific food database for Indonesia.

Inclusion Criteria: Newly diagnosed adult male and female TB active patients Having clinical evidences of active TB symptoms Positive or negative sputum smears Having positive chest X-ray that compatible with a diagnosis of tuberculosis No history of previous anti tuberculosis treatment Give a written informed consent and basic contact data Exclusion Criteria: Heavy smoker (> 20 cigarettes per day) Pregnancy and lactation Extra pulmonary TB Known allergy to soybean Having clinical evidences of any underlying disease

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