14.1 Nutritional response to infection

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Once infected with TB, the body starts using more and more energy trying to fight the infection, and in addition, the infection often causes a loss of appetite in the patient, resulting in the patient losing weight. An increase in protein breakdown leads to muscle wasting in these patients. The breakdown of protein and other reserves due to fever may also worsen under nutrition and further impair resistance against the infection. The increased energy expenditure and tissue breakdown associated with infection are thought to increase the requirements of micronutrients such as vitamin A, E, B6, C, D and folate. It is also known that a decrease in trace elements such as iron, zinc and selenium occur during the infection.