Gum Arabic as novel anti-oxidant agent in sickle cell anemia, phase II trial.
BACKGROUND
Sickle cell anemia patients suffer from oxidative stress due to chronic inflammation and self-oxidation of sickle hemoglobin (Hb S). Chronic oxidative stress contributes to endothelial dysfunction, inflammation and multiple organ damage in sickle cell disease (SCD). Thus, antioxidant medication may favorably influence the disease. Gum Arabic (GA), edible, dried, gummy exudates from Acacia Senegal tree, has been claimed to act as an anti-oxidant and cytoprotective agent, protecting against experimental hepatic, renal and cardiac toxicities in rats. We hypothesized that regular intake of GA increases anti-oxidant capacity and reduce oxidative stress.


METHODS
Forty-seven patients (5-42 years) carrying hemoglobin SS were recruited. Patients received 30 g/day GA for 12 weeks. Total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels were measured by spectrophotometric methods before and after GA intake. Complete blood count was measured by sysmex.


RESULTS
Gum Arabic significantly increased TAC levelP< 0.001and decreased the oxidative markers MDA (P< 0.05) and H2O2(P< 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
GA has potent anti- oxidative properties in sickle cell anemia. The anti-oxidant effect of GA may thus favorably influence the clinical condition of this and further diseases characterized by oxidative stress.


BACKGROUND
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02467257. Registered 3rd June 2015. Retrospective registration.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Alneelain University, P.O. Box: 11121, Khartoum, 12702 Sudan.
Lamis
0000-0002-1083-4514
L
Kaddam
Alneelain Research Centre Faculty of Medicine, Alneelain University, Khartoum, Sudan.
Imad
I
Fadl-Elmula
Department of Hematology Military Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan.
Omer Ali
OA
Eisawi
Department of Pediatrics Military Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan.
Haydar Awad
HA
Abdelrazig
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
Mohammed Abdelraman
MA
Salih
Department of Physiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Florian
F
Lang
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
Amal M
AM
Saeed
Anti-oxidant; Gum Arabic; Oxidative stress; Sickle