Total Serum Calcium and Inorganic Phosphate levels in Tuberculosis patients in Benin City, Nigeria

Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is still a very common cause of morbidity and mortality around the globe and the disorder of calcium and inorganic phosphate metabolism has been poorly associated with the infection. This study was aimed at assessing the total serum calcium and inorganic phosphate levels in PTB patients in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Blood samples from seventy (70) PTB patients and twenty five (25) apparently healthy individuals were analysed for total serum calcium and inorganic phosphate using conventional colorimetric techniques. The result showed that there was a significant increase (P<0.05) in the mean serum calcium levels of tuberculosis patients (9.4±0.9mg/dl) when compared to control group (8.6±5.8mg/dl). Similarly, there was a decreased mean level of serum calcium (9.06±0.96mg/dl) among newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients when compared to tuberculosis patients on treatment (10.0±0.8mg/dl). However, there was no significant statistical difference (P >0.05) in the inorganic phosphate level between tuberculosis patients and control group as well as in newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients, when compared to tuberculosis patients on treatment. Thus, the study confirms that hypercalcemia is associated with tuberculosis infection.