Nutritional status of young children with inherited blood disorders in western Kenya

Abstract

There is demonstrated high prevalence of hemoglobinopathies in Africa; however, it is unknown how blood disorders affect nutrition status. To determine the burden of anemia, iron and vitamin A deficiency, stunting, wasting, and underweight amongst young children in western Kenya with one or more blood disorders (haptoglobin 2‐2, glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, sickle cell hemoglobin, and α‐thalassemia), we conducted a cross sectional survey of 882 children aged 6–35 months, randomly selected from 60 villages. Hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, transferrin receptor (TfR), C‐reactive protein (CRP), alpha‐1‐acid glycoprotein (AGP), retinol binding protein (RBP), anthropometry, and blood disorders using PCR were measured. Of 861 children with Hb results, 71.7% were anemic (Hb<11 g/dL), 27.2% iron deficient (ferritin<12 μg/L, CRP<10 mg/L), and 16.8% vitamin A deficient (RBP<0.7 μmol/L, CRP<10 mg/L). Of the four blood disorders, anemia burden only differed between α‐thalassemics (82.3%), trait (75.6%), or without (66.8%) (p=0.002). Differences in vitamin A and iron deficiency, stunting, wasting, and underweight were not significant. The crude results suggest that in young children in western Kenya, α‐thalassemia is the only blood disorder associated with nutrition status, with children more likely to be anemic.Grant Funding Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rollins School of Public Health