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

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Abstract

Objectives

To study vitamin C levels in children with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia and correlate with age, transfusions received and iron overload; and to study the effect of administering vitamin C on its levels and Malondialdehyde (MDA) in deficient patients.

Methods

This case-control study enrolled 100 children with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia and 30 healthy controls. MDA levels before and after administration of vitamin C were performed randomly in 36 children with low vitamin C levels.

Results

81/95 (85.3%) study subjects vs none in control group, had low plasma vitamin C levels (P<0.001). Vitamin C levels were low in 64 of 71 (74.7%) subjects with dietary deficiency, while none of the 19 (63.3%) controls with dietary deficiency had low levels (P=0.04). Increasing serum ferritin values correlated with vitamin C deficiency (P=0.02). The mean level of MDA reduced (P<0.001) with vitamin C supplementation.

Conclusions

Low levels of vitamin C are common in children with thalassemia. Dietary counseling along with supplementation with vitamin C, in those with low levels may prevent oxidative stress.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital, Sion, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    Vasudeva K. Bhat, Ratna A. Sharma, Sujata M. Sharma, Nikita Shah & Mamta V. Manglani

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital, Sion, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    Priyanka Joshi & Bina F. Dias

  3. MGM Institute of Health Sciences, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    Maninder Setia

  4. MCGM-comprehensive Thalassemia Care, Hematology-Oncology and BMT Centre, CCI Compound, Borivali (East), Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400 066, India

    Mamta V. Manglani

Authors
  1. Vasudeva K. Bhat
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  2. Ratna A. Sharma
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  3. Sujata M. Sharma
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  4. Priyanka Joshi
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  5. Bina F. Dias
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  6. Nikita Shah
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  7. Maninder Setia
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  8. Mamta V. Manglani
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mamta V. Manglani.

Additional information

Ethics clearance

Institutional Ethics Committee of LTMM College and LTMG Hospital, Mumbai; No. PS/IECHR/DISS/105(11/10).

Contributors

VB: conducted the study and prepared the draft of the manuscript; RS: helped in management of the patients, monitored the outcomes and helped in analysing the results; SS: helped in collecting data and managing the patients; PJ: performed the tests in the laboratory; BD: supervised the laboratory testing of the samples and helped in correlating with the clinical findings; MS: helped in planning the study and did the statistical analysis; NS: helped in revising the draft; MM: conceptualized the study, guided throughout the study and finalized the draft. All authors approved the final version of manuscript, and are accountable for all aspects related to the study.

Funding

Intramural funds

Competing interests

None stated.

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Cite this article

Bhat, V.K., Sharma, R.A., Sharma, S.M. et al. Vitamin C Deficiency and Oxidant Levels in Children With Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia. Indian Pediatr 58, 631–634 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-021-2257-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-021-2257-8

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