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Three hundred and ninety seven smear positive patients of pulmonary tuberculosis were randomly put on two rifampicin containing anti-tuberculosis drug regimens with ascorbic acid and without ascorbic acid. Serum rifampicin levels and hepatotoxicity during the study were assessed. Ascorbic acid did not influence the serum levels of rifampicin (p>0.1). However the frequency of hepatitis was less in patients receiving anti-tuberculosis drugs with ascorbic acid (1.7%) compared to those who received anti-tuberculosis drugs alone (3.7%).