Doctors Lounge - Hematology Answers Back to Hematology Answers List - Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:29 am What type of food a Thalassemia minor patient should have or should avoid???Is there any restriction or limitation? - Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:27 am Hi, Therefore, For example, a vegetarian diet often contains less zinc than a meat based diet and so it is important for vegetarians to eat plenty of foods known to be rich in this vital mineral. Vegetarians may need as much as 50% more of the RDA for zinc in their diets than non-vegetarians because of the lower absorption of zinc from plant foods (excessive phytates, which prevents absorption of zinc). One should also remember that excess fiber in the diet can decrease zinc absorption.Good sources of zinc for vegetarians include lentils and beans, seeds, nuts, wholegrain cereals, yeast and dairy products. Pumpkin seeds are one of the most concentrated sources of zinc. While deficiency of zinc compromises the immune system, zinc toxicity can occur in acute or chronic forms.
Intakes of 150-450 mg of zinc/day or intakes of more than 3 months duration have been associated with reduced levels of high-density lipoproteins, low copper status, altered iron function and reduced immune function. Copper helps in erythropoiesis along with iron. 30% to 50% of alcoholics may be zinc deficient. Alcohol consumption decreases intestinal absorption of zinc and increases its urinary excretion.I hope this information is helpful. Check a doctor's response to similar questions Are you a Doctor, Pharmacist, PA or a Nurse? Join the Doctors Lounge online medical community Editorial activities: Publish, peer review, edit Ask a Doctor Teams: Respond to patient questions and discuss challenging presentations with other members. Doctors Lounge Membership ApplicationArch Iran Med. 2006 Jul;9(3):266-8.Mojtahedzadeh F1, Kosaryan M, Mahdavi MR, Akbari J.Author information1Department of Pediatrics, Thalassemia Research Center, Bou-Ali Sina Hospital, Iran.AbstractFolic acid is a coenzyme for many important biochemical reactions including synthesis of purines, pyrimidines, and nucleoproteins.
The recommended daily allowance of folic acid is 65 - 200 microg/day for infants and children. The recommended dose for deficiency states is 1000 microg/day; the effects of excess amounts of folic acid are unknown. The role of folic acid in preventing progression of arteriosclerosis is rather a new issue. Thrombotic events related to slightly elevated levels of homocystein in adults may be decreased by daily consumption of 1 mg of folic acid together with 5 - 100 mg of pyridoxine.PMID: 16859064 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Publication typeRandomized Controlled TrialMeSH termsAdolescentDietary Supplements*FemaleFolic Acid/administration & dosage*Folic Acid/bloodFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleRadioimmunoassayRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeVitamin B Complex/administration & dosage*beta-Thalassemia/bloodbeta-Thalassemia/diet therapy*SubstancesVitamin B ComplexFolic AcidMedicalBeta Thalassemia - Genetic AllianceThalassemia - Genetic AllianceB Vitamins - MedlinePlus Health InformationDietary Supplements - MedlinePlus Health InformationFolic Acid - MedlinePlus Health InformationMiscellaneousFOLIC ACID - Hazardous Substances Data Bank
Epub 2013 Mar 4.Tabei SM1, Mazloom M, Shahriari M, Zareifar S, Azimi A, Hadaegh A, Karimi M.Author information1Department of Medical Genetics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences , Shiraz , Iran.AbstractBeta-thalassemia minor (BTM) patients usually experience fatigue, bone pain complaint, and muscle weakness. Carnitine is an essential protein for transportation of long-chain fatty acids to the matrix for beta-oxidation. BTM patients have abnormally low plasma carnitine concentrations, which results in deficient ATP production. Carnitine and folic acid together may have a role in preventing bone pain complaint and fatigue in these patients. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of carnitine and folic acid supplementation in subjects with BTM. Seventy three BTM (mean age 11.06 ± 5.46 years) and 23 healthy controls (mean age 8.48 ± 3.78 years) were enrolled in the study. Fasting blood was drawn to determine baseline free and total carnitine levels, red blood cell folate concentration, and hemoglobin level.
BTM were divided into three groups and received different types of supplementation for 3 months: Group 1, 50 mg/kg/day carnitine; Group 2, 50 mg/kg/day carnitine plus 1 mg/day folic acid; and Group 3, 1 mg/day folic acid. Controls did not receive supplementation. Laboratory parameters were again evaluated after 3 months' supplementation. A detailed quality of life questionnaire was designed to investigate muscle symptoms before and after supplementation. Free and total plasma carnitine concentration and hemoglobin levels in BTM subjects increased significantly after carnitine supplementation (P < .0001). Bone pain complaint and muscle weakness decreased with carnitine. Red blood cell folate level increased after folic acid supplementation. Carnitine and folic acid supplementation resulted in a decrease in bone pain complaint and muscle weakness in cases with β-thalassemia minor. PMID: 23458634 DOI: 10.3109/08880018.2013.771388 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Publication typesClinical TrialMulticenter StudyResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tMeSH termsAdolescentCarnitine/administration & dosage*ChildChild, PreschoolDietary Supplements*Fatigue/bloodFatigue/drug therapy*Fatigue/etiologyFatigue/physiopathologyFemaleFolic Acid/administration & dosage*Hemoglobins/metabolismHumansMaleQuality of LifeSurveys and QuestionnairesVitamin B Complex/administration & dosage*beta-Thalassemia/bloodbeta-Thalassemia/complicationsbeta-Thalassemia/drug therapy*beta-Thalassemia/physiopathologySubstancesHemoglobinsVitamin B ComplexFolic AcidCarnitineFull Text SourcesTaylor & FrancisMedicalBeta Thalassemia - Genetic AllianceThalassemia - Genetic AllianceB Vitamins - MedlinePlus Health InformationDietary Supplements - MedlinePlus Health InformationFatigue -