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Red blood cell folate and serum vitamin B12 status in children with sickle cell disease

T S Kennedy1, E B Fung, D A Kawchak

  • 1Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.

Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
|April 18, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Many children with sickle cell disease have inadequate folate intake, and some have low red blood cell folate levels despite supplementation. Vitamin B12 levels were adequate, but both nutrients decreased with age.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hematology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Sickle Cell Disease Research

Background:

  • Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects red blood cell (RBC) function and can impact nutritional status.
  • Folate and vitamin B12 are crucial for RBC production and overall health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess RBC folate and serum vitamin B12 levels in children with SS-type sickle cell disease.
  • To investigate the relationship between these nutrient levels and growth and hematologic parameters.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 70 children (ages 1-19) with sickle cell disease.
  • Collected data included complete blood counts, RBC folate, serum vitamin B12, anthropometrics, pubertal status, and dietary recalls.

Main Results:

  • 15% of children had low RBC folate levels, with 57% having inadequate dietary folate intake.
  • Only 3% had low serum vitamin B12, and all had adequate dietary intake.
  • Both RBC folate and serum vitamin B12 levels declined with increasing age.

Conclusions:

  • Inadequate dietary folate intake is common in children with SCD, leading to low RBC folate even with supplementation.
  • Vitamin B12 status was generally adequate, but levels decreased with age.
  • Further research is needed on folate supplementation, B12, homocysteine, and vascular risks in pediatric SCD.
Abstract

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