Evaluation of Calcium and Vitamin D Levels in Serum in A Sample of Thalassemia Patients from Baghdad

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 College of Pharmacy, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq

2 Basic Science Department, College of dentistry, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq

10.30476/ijns.2025.106136.1427

Abstract

Background: Beta thalassemia patients require lifelong blood transfusions that can lead to iron accumulation in tissues and a decreased vitamin D synthesis. This study determined vitamin D and calcium levels in thalassemia patients in Baghdad, Iraq.
Methods: In 2023, 100 adult patients of 15-25 years of both sexes who were regularly diagnosed with thalassemia in Center for Genetic Hematology at Ibn al-Baladi Hospital in Rusafa- Baghdad, Iraq were enrolled. Serum 25-OH-vitamin D and calcium were levels were assessed. Totally, 50 blood samples were collected from thalassemia patients together with 50 blood samples from healthy people as control for comparison.
Results: Vitamin D level was low in thalassemia patients. There was a significant difference in the decrease in vitamin D level between men and women (p=0.008). Females had a significantly higher calcium deficiency than males. The serum calcium level was low, and no significant difference was noticed between sexes (p=0.28). When comparing thalassemia rate, a significant difference was visible in vitamin D level (p=0.002). For calcium level, the difference between two groups was significant (p=0.01).
Conclusion: A significant difference was observed for vitamin D and calcium deficiency among thalassemia patients of both sexes when compared to healthy people.

Highlights

Marwah Mohammed Nasri (Google Scholar)

Ayat Abd-Aljaleel Nsaif (Google Scholar)

 

Keywords

References

  1. Adekile AD, Haider MZ. Genetic epidemiology of sickle cell anaemia and alfa/beta Thalassemia in Kuwait. J Kw Med Assoc. 1996; 28:104-110.
  2. Pasalar M, Mehrabani D, Afrasiabi A, Mehravar Z, et al. Prevalence of thalassaemia, iron-deficiency anaemia and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency among arab migrating nomad children, southern Islamic Republic of Iran. East Mediter. Health J. 2014;20:726-731. PMID: 25601811.
  3. Afifi AM. National plan for the management of thalassemia major hypertransfusion intensive desferroxiamine therapy in Egypt. by M Aksoy, GFB Birdwood. Hypertransfusion and Iron Chelation in Thalassemia. Bern: Hans Huber Publication. 1985;19-29.‏
  4. Karimi M, Mehrabani D, Pasalar M, et al. Thalassemia, Iron And G6pd Deficiency In Lor Migrating Nomad Children, Southern Iran. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2010;12:441-445.‏ PMID: 25601811
  5. Campbell M, Henthorn JS, Davies SC. Evaluation of cation- exchange HPLC compared with isoelectric focusing for neonatal hemaglobinopathy screening. Clin Chem. 1999; 45:969-975. DOI:10.1093/clinchem/45.7.969. PMID: 10388471.
  6. Mehrabani D, Karimi M, Pasalar M, et al. Frequency Of Thalassemia, Iron And Glucose-6phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency Among Turkish Migrating Nomad Children In Southern Iran. Acta Medica Iranica. 2008;47:1-5.
  7. Al-Assadi ZM. Molecular detection of some mutations associated with beta-thalassemia in Iraq. Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology for Post Graduate Studies.‏
  8. Cappellini N, Cohen A, Eleftherio A, Piga A, et al. Guidelines for the clinical management of thalassemia 2 edition. Nicosia (CY): Thalassaemia International Federation; 2008. PMID: 24308075.
  9. EL-Hazmi MA, Warsy AS, AL-Swailem AR, et al. Genetic compounds. Hbs. Thalassemia and enzymopathies: spectrum of interaction. J Trop pediatric. 1994; 40: 149- 156. DOI: 10.1093/tropej/40.3.149. PMID: 8078113.
  10. Ellis J P, Pasceri KU, Xwu A, Harper P, et al. Evaluation of beta-globin gene therapy constructs in single copy transgenic mice. Nucleic Acid Res. 1997; 25:1296-1302. DOI: 1093/nar/25.6.1296. PMID: 9092642.
  11. Chong SS, Boehm CD, Higgs Dr, et al. Single tube Multiplex-PCR Screen for common deletional of alfathalassemia. Blood. 2000;95:2-360. DOI:10.1182/blood.V95.1.360. PMID: 10607725.
  12. Cowan KH, Moscow JA, Huang H, et al. Paclitaxel chemotherapy after autologous stem-cell transplantation and engraftment of hematopoietic cells transduced with a retrovirus containing the multidrug resistance complementary DNA (MDR1) in metastatic breast cancer patients. Clin Cancer Res. 1999;5:1619-1628, PMID: 10430060.
  13. Voskaridou E, Terpos E. New insights into the pathophysiology and management of osteoporosis in patients with beta thalassemia. Br J Haematol. 2004;127:127-39. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2004.05143.x. PMID: 15461618.
  14. Aydinok y, Nisli G, Kavaki k, et al. sequential use of defeiprone and desferrioxamine in primary school Children with Thalassemia major in Turkey. Acta- Haemotol. 1999;10217-21. DOI: 10.1159/000040962. PMID: 10473883.
  15. Barth E, Malorgio C, Tamarop. Allogenic bone marrow transplantation in hematologic disorders of childhood: New tends and controversies. Haematologica. 2000;85:2-8, PMID: 11268319.
  16. Merchant R, Udani A, Puri V, et al. Evaluation of osteopathy in thalassemia by bone mineral densitometry and biochemical indices. Indian J Pediatr. 2010;77:987-991. DOI:10.1007/s12098010-0158-2. PMID: 20737251.
  17. Gombar S, Parihar K, Choudhary M. Comparative study of serum ferritin and vitamin D in thalassemia patients with healthy controls. Int J Res Med Sci. 2018; 6:693695. DOI:10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20180322.
  18. Vogiatzi MG, Macklin EA, Trachtenberg FL, et al. Differences in the prevalence of growth, endocrine and vitamin D abnormalities among the various thalassaemia syndromes in North America. Br J Haematol. 2009;146:546-556. DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2141.2009.07793.x. PMID: 19604241.
  19. Singh K, Kumar R, Shukla A, et al. Status of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency and effect of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms on bone mineral density in thalassemia patients of North India. Hematology. 2012;17:291-296. DOI:10.1179/1607845412Y.000000001.PMID: 22971535.
  20. Abbassy H, Abo Elwafa R, Omar O. Bone Mineral Density and Vitamin D Receptor Genetic Variants in Egyptian Children with Beta Thalassemia on Vitamin D Supplementation. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis. 2019;11:e2019013.. DOI: 10.4084/MJHID.2019.013. PMID: 30671219.
  21. Karamizadeh M, Zare M, Sohrabi Z, Akbarzadeh M. Sun Exposure Behaviors and Vitamin D Status in Healthy Adults. Int J Nutr Sci. 2025;10:75-85. DOI: 10.30476/ijns.2025.100529.1281.
  22. Shahsavani Z, Asadi AH, Shamshirgardi E, et al. Vitamin D, Magnesium and Their Interactions: A Review. Int J Nutr Sci. 2021;6:113-118. DOI: 10.30476/IJNS.2021.91766.1144.
  23. Shahsavani Z, Sohrabi Z, Karamizadeh M, et al. Vitamin D and GUT Microbiota: A Review. Int J Nutr Sci. 2020;5:50-56. DOI: 10.30476/IJNS.2020.87176.1079.
  24. Khamoushi A, Aalipanah E, Sohrabi Z, et al. Vitamin D and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review. Int J Nutr Sci. 2019;4:9-13. DOI: 10.30476/IJNS.2019.81436.1004.
  25. Marwaha R, Tandon N, Reddy D, et al. Vitamin D and bone mineral density status of healthy schoolchildren in northern India. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015;82:477-82. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn.82.2.477. PMID: 16087996.
  26. Ghorbat SA, Malika KN, Ahmad M, et al. A Study of Vitamin D and Calcium Level in Beta Thalassemia Major in Duhok Province. ‏Turkish J Agric Food Sci Technol. 2019;7:1924-1927. DOI: 24925/turjaf.v7i11.1924-1927.2893.
  27. Shahriari S, Eftekhari MH, Jeddi M. The Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation in Overweight or Obese Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Vitamin D Deficiency and Dyslipidemia. Int J Nutr Sci. 2018;3:185-191.
  28. Sharifi MH, Eftekhari MH, Salehi Mobarakeh M, et al. Association of Vitamin D with Diet Quality, Sun Exposure, Physical Activity, Sociodemographic and Anthropometrics Indices. Int J Nutr Sci. 2017;2:73-79.
  29. Jabbar NB, Ali BM, et al. Assessment of Serum Ferritin, Serum Calcium, and Vitamin D Status in β-thalassemia Major Children and Adolescents in Al Rusafa Side in Baghdad. Journal of Global Scientific Research. 2023;8:3298-3306.‏
International Journal of Nutrition Sciences
Volume 10, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
December 2025
Pages 577-581

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics