5597349 VITAMIN C AND VITAMIN K2 AS RISK FACTORS FOR OSTEOPOROSIS IN CHILDREN WITH B- THALASSEMIA

Abstract

Background: Osteoporosis and related fractures have emerged as an important cause of morbidity in patients with B-thalassemia. Many risk factors are attributed to development of Osteopenia and osteoporosis among those patients. Moreover a few studies reported the relation between the osteoporosis and vitamin C and vitamin K2. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between the levels of vitamin C and vitamin K2 and risk of development of osteoporosis in children and adult with Beta-Thalassemia major. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried on 66 β-thalassemia patients and thirty-three age and sex matched control. Their mean age was 15.78±3.9 years. Complete physical examination was performed for all patients in addition to assessing anthropometric measurements. All patients were subjected to routine laboratory investigations, in addition to Vitamin K2, Vitamin C and 25-OH- cholecalciferol assay using ELISA were performed. Bone Mineral Density (BMD) was measured by the Dual Energy X-ray Absorption (DEXA) scan method. Results: the mean vitamin K2 level was significantly lower in patients compared to controls (146.08 ± 85.5 ng/l and 277.78 ± 194.6 ng/l respectively. also, the mean vitamin C level was significantly lower in patients compared to controls (86.27 ± 55.34ng/l and 102.98 ± 75.93 ng/l respectively. Osteopenia and osteoporosis were present in 30.3% and 36.4% of patients respectively compared to 0% in controls where the mean BMD in lumber spine (L1-L4) and femoral neck on both sides was significantly lower in patients compared to controls. There was significant positive correlation between vitamin k2 level and each of body mass index, BMD of (lumber spine, left femur and total hips). Conclusion: Bone mineral density was significantly impaired in patients with b- thalassemia major. Patients with reduced levels of vitamin K2 and vitamin C are at higher risk of developing osteopenia and or osteoporosis. Reference 1. Finck etal,Nutr Res REV 2014;27(2):268.