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Fat-Soluble Antioxidant Vitamins, Iron Overload and Chronic Malnutrition in β-Thalassemia Major

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Abstract

Objective

To assess the antioxidant vitamins A (retinol) and E (α-tocopherol) levels, iron status and growth retardation in children with β-thalassemia major in Odisha, an eastern state of India.

Methods

Forty three children aged 1–15 y diagnosed with β-thalassemia major (28 males and 15 females) and 42 age-matched healthy controls (22 males and 20 females) were studied. β-thalassemia was detected by using Bio-rad variant assay. Measurement of blood hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit, serum vitamins (A and E) and ferritin was carried out by standard methods.

Results

Mean hemoglobin (6.60 ± 1.84 vs. 11.8 ± 2.29 g/dL, p < 0.01), serum retinol (28.0 ± 17.67 vs. 54.4 ± 36.56 μg/dL, p < 0.001) and α-tocopherol (0.2 ± 0.34 vs. 1.1 ± 0.82 mg/dL, p < 0.001) were significantly lower in children with thalassemia compared with control group, however, serum ferritin (storage iron) was elevated in thalassemia patients (553.7 ± 176.80 vs. 57.3 ± 40.73 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Vitamin E had significantly correlated with hemoglobin and hematocrit values in the patients. Growth retardation in terms of stunting (79 % vs. 24 %, p < 0.0001) and thinness (32.6 % vs. 9.5 %, p < 0.05) was significantly higher in thalassemic children compared with normal children.

Conclusions

This study shows that children with β-thalas-semia major are in a state of oxidative stress of hyperfer-ritinemia with deprived antioxidant vitamins (A and E) and poor growth status suggesting a possible need for reduction in iron overload and additional antioxidant supplementation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank all the children and their parents for their contribution to the study. They are also thankful to Mr. B. Murmu and Mr. Sukanta Mishra for their help during the course of laboratory investigations. Their special thanks to the Director, of their institute for his enthusiastic encouragement and extending laboratory facilities.

Conflict of Interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrition Division, Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, India

    Shuchismita Behera

  2. Human Genetics Division, Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, India

    Sujata Dixit

  3. Nutrition Division, Regional Medical Research Centre (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, 751023, India

    Gandham Bulliyya

  4. Director, Regional Medical Research Centre (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, India

    Shantanu Kumar Kar

Authors
  1. Shuchismita Behera
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  2. Sujata Dixit
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Correspondence to Gandham Bulliyya.

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Behera, S., Dixit, S., Bulliyya, G. et al. Fat-Soluble Antioxidant Vitamins, Iron Overload and Chronic Malnutrition in β-Thalassemia Major. Indian J Pediatr 81, 270–274 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-013-1162-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-013-1162-0

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