ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To study vitamin C levels in children with transfusion-dependent b-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 b-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.
Subject(s)
Ascorbic Acid Deficiency , Thalassemia , beta-Thalassemia , Ascorbic Acid Deficiency/epidemiology , Case-Control Studies , Child , Humans , OxidantsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the antioxidant status in HIV positive children. METHODS: HIV positive children under the age group of 3-12 years from lower socio-economic strata were chosen for the study (Group 1). The values were compared with normal children (Group 2) not suffering from any disease in the same age group and similar socio-economic strata. The antioxidants chosen for the present study were vitamin A (Retinol), vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) and vitamin E (alpha tocopherol). RESULTS: Results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using student 't' test (in the present study 'z' test was applied). The antioxidants vitamin A, C and E decreased in HIV positive children as compared to controls. Vitamin A was significant to the level of p< 0.01 and vitamin C and E to the level of p< 0.001 and p< 0.02 respectively. CONCLUSION: The decrease in antioxidants A, C and E in HIV positive children is due to increased utilization of antioxidant micronutrients because of increased oxidative stress caused due to free radicals.
