Antioxidant Intake in Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) clients experience hypermetabolic state. The objectives of this study were to determine whether there are differences in total dietary intake of antioxidants in both groups was in keeping with recommended dietary intake by the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI). This case-control study was conducted using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire among 42 clients with SCD and 42 normal controls who were matched for age and gender. Participants were SCD clients of varying phenotypes e.g. Thalassemia, HbSS and HbSc who were recruited from the Sickle Cell Unit at an urban clinic and controls were healthy individuals free of SCD drawn from a wider community embracing the urban clinic. There were 65.5% female and 34.5% male participants. The mean age of all participants was 35.4 years and their ages ranged from 18-69 years. There was no difference in age by group (p=0.19). The levels of intake of 12 antioxidants were examined (β carotene, Vitamin B group, Vitamin E group, Vitamin C, Zinc, and Selenium). There were no statistical differences in the mean intake level of each antioxidant between controls and SCD clients. The study also found that all participants consumed antioxidants in excess of Recommended Dietary Allowances with the exception of zinc (mean intake level= 14.4 mg/d) and selenium (mean intake level= 61.8 µg/d). There was no difference in the antioxidant intake between SCD clients and their controlled counterparts and the daily intake of both groups were higher than CFNI recommendations. The study indicates that participants had adequate and higher than RDA intake levels of antioxidants which facilitates cell turnover and Red Blood Cell formation in Sickle Cell Disease Clients.