Nutritional Intervention for Active Tuberculosis: Relevance to Nunavut Tuberculosis Control and Elimination Program

Introduction: A Canadian physician named Sir William Osler truly stated that “Tuberculosis (TB) is a social disease with a medical aspect.” The social determinants of health including food insecurity and malnutrition play a critical role in the high TB incidence in Nunavut, especially among Inuit. The rising epidemiology of TB indicates a strong need for improving the nutritional status of Inuit towards prevention of initial, recurrent infections and immune deficiencies. Methods: The author conducted a small, two-stage analysis of tuberculosis epidemiology and nutritional status in individuals of Inuit ancestry. The first stage included the review of the currently available literature associated with the prevalence of TB in Canada, with a focus on Inuit, and its healthcare expenditure. The second phase focused on assessment of the missing nutrition link in treatment and prevention of the infectious epidemic. Results: The analysis showed that there is a lack of nutrition driven strategies to combat TB incidence among Inuit. There is a compelling need to develop a strategy to fight TB by employing strategies to elevate overall nutritional and health status. The Inuit population continues to face the high incidence of the disease, and we need to remain plugged into efforts to eradicate it. Conclusion: The lack of nutrition among Inuit leads to primary and recurrent TB infections. This commentary recognizes malnutrition and compromised nutritional status as a cardinal feature of TB epidemiology and strongly advocates the initiation of a program targeting this risk of TB.