Antioxidant vitamin levels in sickle cell disorders.
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2007-01-15
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disorder is a haemoglobinopathy prevalent in the Vidharbha region of Maharashtra, central India. With recent evidence of oxidative stress in sickle haemoglobinopathy, a possible deficiency of antioxidant vitamins was suspected.
METHODS: We measured plasma vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene levels in persons with heterozygous (n=80) and homozygous sickle cell state (n=20), and suitable healthy controls for these groups (n=100 and 66, respectively) in a community-based study in the villages near our institution.
RESULTS: Subjects with heterozygous sickle cell trait had lower vitamin E levels than their respective controls (p < 0.05). Subjects with homozygous sickle cell disease had lower levels of all three vitamins (p < 0.05). Vitamins E and C levels showed a significant positive correlation in both forms of sickle cell disorder.
CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that there is depletion of the antioxidant vitamins, particularly in severe forms of sickle cell disorder. A trial of administration of therapeutic doses of vitamin E in this condition is warranted.
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Ray D, Deshmukh P, Goswami K, Garg N. Antioxidant vitamin levels in sickle cell disorders. National Medical Journal of India. 2007 Jan-Feb; 20(1): 11-3