India Launches World’s First Study To Assess Ayurveda With TB Therapy

India has initiated the world’s first clinical study to scientifically evaluate Ayurveda as an adjunct to standard anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT), marking a significant step towards evidence-based integrative healthcare in the management of chronic diseases.

The collaborative study, undertaken by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Union Ministry of Ayush, will enroll 1,250 newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients across eight institutions. It aims to assess whether Ayurveda, when used alongside conventional treatment, can improve outcomes such as body weight, nutritional status, disease progression, quality of life, safety, and tolerability.

Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said the initiative reflects a “whole-of-science” approach by integrating modern biotechnology with traditional knowledge systems, along with a “whole-of-government” approach through inter-ministerial collaboration. On the occasion of the announcement of the proposed study at an event in the national capital, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav emphasized the need to look beyond infection control in tuberculosis care.

“The treatment of tuberculosis is not only about eliminating the infection, but about making the patient completely healthy. With this approach, we are moving towards a new perspective where Ayurveda and other Ayush systems are not only supportive in treatment but also play an important role in improving recovery, nutrition, and the quality of life of patients,” he said.

Officials noted that tuberculosis management often requires addressing associated complications such as malnutrition and severe weight loss. Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha said the initiative aims to generate scientific evidence on integrative care. “Tuberculosis management requires not only effective treatment but also a focus on recovery and quality of life. By combining Ayurveda with science, we aim to address TB-associated cachexia and strengthen patient outcomes,” he said.

The study has progressed through consultations, protocol finalization, and regulatory approvals, according to Director General of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Rabinarayan Acharya.

Highlighting the scientific framework of the study, Dr. Debasisa Mohanty, Director, BRIC-National Institute of Immunology (NII), said researchers will examine tuberculosis-associated cachexia as an immune-metabolic condition. Advanced diagnostic tools such as DEXA scans, MRI, immune profiling, metabolomics, and single-cell RNA sequencing will be used to assess changes in body composition, immune response, and energy metabolism.

The multi-center study will be conducted across leading institutions, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, and the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences. It is expected to run for 24 months and generate robust data on the efficacy and safety of Ayurveda as an adjunct therapy.

The initiative builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in May 2022 between the two ministries to promote integrative and evidence-based healthcare. It is also aligned with India’s broader efforts to eliminate tuberculosis, which continues to be a major public health challenge, said the officials.

India accounts for nearly 25 percent of the global tuberculosis burden, though incidence has declined by 21 percent over the past decade to around 187 cases per 100,000 population in 2024. The government has adopted an accelerated pathway towards TB elimination through early diagnosis, universal drug susceptibility testing, digital adherence technologies, and patient-centric care under the National TB Elimination Programme.

Singh noted that tuberculosis is often linked with other chronic conditions such as diabetes, where each disease can worsen the other, underscoring the need for integrated treatment approaches. He also referred to the RePORT India programme, a major TB research consortium with over 4,500 patients and 5,000 household contacts, which has contributed to global policy frameworks, including guidelines of the World Health Organization.

The officials said the new study could provide critical insights into holistic disease management by combining traditional systems with modern medicine, potentially offering a more comprehensive model of care for tuberculosis and other chronic conditions.