Vitamin C Deficiency and Oxidant Levels in Children With Transfusion-Dependent b-Thalassemia

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Hematology
• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Oxidative Stress Research

Background:

• Transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia is a chronic condition requiring frequent blood transfusions.
• Iron overload is a common complication of thalassemia due to transfusions and increased absorption.
• Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of beta-thalassemia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess vitamin C status in children with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia.
• To investigate the relationship between vitamin C levels, age, transfusion history, and iron overload.
• To evaluate the impact of vitamin C supplementation on vitamin C levels and Malondialdehyde (MDA) in deficient patients.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 100 children with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia and 30 healthy controls.
• Measurement of plasma vitamin C levels and serum ferritin.
• Assessment of Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels before and after vitamin C administration in a subset of patients.

Main Results:

• A high prevalence of low plasma vitamin C was observed in 85.3% of children with beta-thalassemia compared to controls.
• Vitamin C deficiency was more prevalent in subjects with dietary deficiency (74.7%) versus controls (0%).
• Low vitamin C levels correlated significantly with increased serum ferritin (indicating iron overload) and reduced MDA levels post-supplementation.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin C deficiency is a common comorbidity in children with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia.
• Supplementation with vitamin C, alongside dietary counseling, may be beneficial in mitigating oxidative stress in these patients.
• Monitoring and addressing vitamin C status is crucial for managing children with beta-thalassemia.