title: Antioxidant status in children with homozygous thalassemia.
abstract: The status of enzymatic and non-enzymatic anti-oxidants was evaluated in 41 patients with transfusion dependent beta-thalassemia. An additional 20 age-matched children, with non-hemolytic anemia, served as controls. Fresh blood samples, obtained in the morning, were processed immediately. Plasma was stored at -80 degrees C. Levels of vitamins A and E were assayed simultaneously by HPLC. RBC vitamin A was not measurable in 29 (70.7%) thalassemics and in all the controls. Plasma vitamin A levels were lower in thalassemics than in controls (p<0.05). Vitamin E in RBCs was not measurable in 13 (31. 7%) cases. The mean level of RBC vitamin E was 3 times lower in thalassemics. Similarly, SOD enzyme activity in thalassemics, was at least 1.5 lower in comparison to the activity documented in controls (p<0. 05). The observations indicate that thalassemics have enhanced oxidative stress. Administration of selective antioxidants and a balanced diet may preclude oxidative damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160 012, India.
authors.forename: Veena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dhawan
authors.forename: Kh Ratan
authors.initials: KhR
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Marwaha
authors.forename: Nirmal K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Ganguly
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase