Effects of L-carritine on grawth of Egypt children with sickle cell anaaenia

Growth improvement on L-Garnitine therapy has been observed in transfusion dependent sickle cell anaemia patients. We plan to study 27 Egyptian sickle Jell patients on low transfusion regimen for 6 months follow-up study period. The study included .13 males and 14 females aged [546 years]. Anthropometric measurements were done before starting L-Carnitine and six months after L-Carnitine [50 mg/kg orally]. Measurements included weighs, height, body mass index, skeletal muscle development and measurements of body fat. Twenty patients [10 males and 10 females.] of the same age and social classes were followed in the study as a control. Patients were divided according to their ages into 2 groups [5-10 years] and [11-26 years,]. The study showed increase in the standard deviation score [SDS] of weight and height per age of the supplemented children compared to control groups. There were increase in the chest/head ratio [C/H R], deltoid circumference, mid arm muscle circumference, mid arm fat circumference and subscapaular and supra iliac skin fold thicknesses compared to controls. These results were more apparent in the young age groups. We concluded the beneficial effect of L-Carnitine on the physical growth of patients with sickle cell anaemia especially the young, a longer period of supplementation is recommended

Effect of obesity and dieting on some serum minerals

A group of 47 obese women aged 20-50 years was studied, where age, height and weight matched with another group of 34 obese women after they had followed a mixed diet restricted to about 1000 kcal/day for 3 months. The study aimed to clarify the impact of obesity and dieting on calcium [Ca], potassium [K], and sodium [Na] homeostasis. Numerically, the lowest serum calcium values recorded for all the participants were those of severely obese control women [BMI >40] who also significantly recorded lower serum potassium values than those of milder degrees of obesity. The dieters groups which also comprised the same and all degrees of obesity did not show any significant change in the mean serum values of either calcium or potassium. Slight nonsignificant elevations of the mean serum sodium levels were recorded for the obese dieters over the obese controls, although individually a higher percentage of obese non-dieting women had a level >146 mg/l. It was concluded that obesity, especially that of severe type leads to alteration in some mineral homeostasis, especially that of potassium and calcium and that food rich in these elements must be included in slimming diets