Increased meat consumption is associated with reduced tuberculosis treatment failure rate: A cohort study.

Background and objectives Information regarding the relationship between dietary meat intake and tuberculosis treatment outcomes among patients with tuberculosis is still limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between meat consumption and tuberculosis treatment outcomes in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods and study design A pulmonary tuberculosis cohort study including 2,261 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was conducted in Linyi, Shandong Province, China from 2009 to 2013. Dietary data were collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Treatment outcomes were assessed using a combination of sputum smear microscopy and chest computerized tomography. Results In a multiple adjusted model, the higher quartile of total meat (OR=0.59, 95% CI, 0.38-0.91) was associated with a decreased failure rate of pulmonary tuberculosis treatment. In addition, higher consumption of chicken (OR=0.62; 95% CI, 0.44-0.87) and pork (OR=0.54; 95% CI, 0.31-0.95) was associated with a lower failure rate of tuberculosis treatment. Conclusions Increased dietary intake of total meat, pork, and chicken are associated with a decreased failure rate of pulmonary tuberculosis treatment. A higher dietary meat intake may be beneficial in pulmonary tuberculosis treatment.