Vitamin A, E and carotenoid status in Jamaica children with sickle cell disease

ABSTRACT

Nutritional deficiencies would appear to be an important determinant of morbidity in homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease. This is evidenced by the growth and development deficits which are observed in children with SS disease. In a study of the nutritional status of Jamaican children with SS disease aged 3 to 6 years, serum samples from blood taken after an overnight fast in the SS children and children of the same age with normal haemoglobin (AA) were collected. Micro-nutrient analyses of these serum samples for vitamin A (retinol) and vitamins E (alpha and gamma tocopherol) and the carotenoids, beta-carotene and lycopene were carried out using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results suggest that in children with SS disease several of the micro-nutrients which are essential for maintaining optimal antioxidant status are found in decreased amounts in serum. The confirmation of these micronutrients deficiencies in SS children provide the basis fo further exploration of their interrelationshipo with the growth and development deficits in this population. (AU)