Minjoon Hur

Nutritional Status of Sickle Cell Disease Patients: A Literature Review

Started May 16, 2022

Abstract or project description

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a lethal, life-long condition characterized by a mutation in the gene that codes for hemoglobin. To alleviate the pain experienced by sickle cell (SC) patients, adequate nutrition levels are vital as deficiencies of vitamins or minerals may cause other symptoms. This review aims to provide an overview of the nutrient status of SC patients and propose research areas where further study is required. The review summarizes twelve primary research papers that assessed the levels of vitamins A, C, D, E, B-2, B-6, B-12, folate, magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper in SC patients. Most SC patients exhibited suboptimal levels of vitamin A, while deficiencies in vitamin D and B-2 were prevalent. Their zinc and vitamins B-6, B-12, C, and E levels were generally adequate, while elevated folate and copper levels were observed. The magnesium levels in SC patients were lower than those in the healthy population. Determining the status of iron concentration in SC patients was challenging due to the limitations associated with the measurement methods employed in the reviewed papers. There were notable differences in some of the measurement methods used for the same nutrient levels. More research is needed to find the optimal amount of vitamin A supplement for SC patients. The effect of zinc supplementation on copper levels and the cause of low zinc levels in SC patients remains unexplored.