The Benefits of Vitamin C and Vitamin E in Children with βββββ-Thalassemia with High Oxidative Stress
Thasinas Dissayabutra MD*, Piyaratana Tosukhowong PhD*, Panya Seksan MD**
Affiliation : *Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University **Hematology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
The present study aimed to determine the benefits of vitamin C and vitamin E as antioxidant supple-
ments in β-Thalassemia children who are at risk of iron overload due to multiple blood transfusion and high
oxidative stress. Antioxidant status, oxidative products, plasma free hemoglobin, total hemoglobin and biliru-
bin were discussed. Twenty children who had laboratory confirmation of major β-Thalassemia at least 6
months with history of packed red cell transfusion without iron chelation were recruited. The informed
consent for blood sample collection and antioxidant medication was performed. Most patients (85%) had
hyperferritinemia and all of them had high oxidative stress. All of them had low vitamin C and vitamin E level
at recruitment. Three months after vitamin C and vitamin E supplementation, plasma vitamin C, vitamin E and
glutathione were significantly increased, while total bilirubin was slightly decreased without significance.
Other parameters included total antioxidant status (TAS), plasma and erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA),
hemoglobin and plasma free hemoglobin had no differences during the study period.
Conclusion : β-Thalassemia major children who had multiple blood transfusion are at risk in iron overload
and high oxidative stress. From the present study, no significant improvement in raising hemoglobin and
concerning low dose vitamin C is not contraindication in β-Thalassemia patients. Therefore, vitamin C plus
vitamin E supplementation have benefits more than vitamin E alone in promoting antioxidant status and may
enhance liver function as total bilirubin tends to decrease.
Keywords : Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Oxidative stress, Thalassemia, Antioxidant
