title: Antioxidant vitamin levels in sickle cell disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sickle cell disorder is a haemoglobinopathy prevalent in the Vidharbha region of Maharashtra, central India. With recent evidence of oxidative stress in sickle haemoglobinopathy, a possible deficiency of antioxidant vitamins was suspected.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured plasma vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene levels in persons with heterozygous (n=80) and homozygous sickle cell state (n=20), and suitable healthy controls for these groups (n=100 and 66, respectively) in a community-based study in the villages near our institution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with heterozygous sickle cell trait had lower vitamin E levels than their respective controls (p < 0.05). Subjects with homozygous sickle cell disease had lower levels of all three vitamins (p < 0.05). Vitamins E and C levels showed a significant positive correlation in both forms of sickle cell disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that there is depletion of the antioxidant vitamins, particularly in severe forms of sickle cell disorder. A trial of administration of therapeutic doses of vitamin E in this condition is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Wardha 442102, Maharashtra.
authors.forename: Debes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Pradeep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deshmukh
authors.forename: Kalyan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goswami
authors.forename: Neelam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D019207:beta Carotene; D001205:Ascorbic Acid