Blood transfusion can be a life-saving therapy for β-thalassemia major and β-thalassemia/HbE (β-TM) patients with chronic anemia, major caused severe iron overload particularly in β-TM patients received only blood transfusion therapy. We aim to evaluate the association of iron overload with oxidative stress, liver damage, and elevated very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) in transfusion-dependent β-TM patients. Serum ferritin, malondialdehyde (MDA), liver profiles, triglycerides levels, and VLDL-C were significantly higher while total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and total antioxidant capacity were lower in β-TM than controls. Serum ferritin was significantly correlated with MDA, liver enzymes and lipid profiles (p < 0.05). Multiple forward stepwise linear regression analyses of the significant variables showed that in these β-TM patients, independent predictors of iron overload were MDA (β = 0.410, r (2) = 0.671, p < 0.001), ALT (β = 0.493, r (2) = 0.578, p < 0.001), and VLDL-C (β = 0.253, r (2) = 0.711, p < 0.001). In conclusion, iron overload associated with increased oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, liver damage, decreased TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and over production of VLDL-C, is significantly problem in transfusion-dependent β-TM patients. These appeared the major cause of future morbidity and mortality in β-TM patients.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed to investigate the effect of cinnamon supplementation on glucose, triglyceride (TG), and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, TG/HDL-C ratio, blood pressure (BP), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for ninety-nine type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Forty nine (49) patients with T2DM were in the cinnamon group whereas 50 were in the placebo group. All participants received either a cinnamon or placebo capsule daily for the 60-day study period. At the end of the study, median glucose, TG, TG/HDL-C ratio, and BP were significantly decreased (p \ 0.005) whereas HDL-C and eGFR levels were significantly increased (p \ 0.005) in the cinnamon supplementation group. Interestingly, the study also revealed reduction of HbA1c levels after the 60-day study period. In the placebo group, glucose, TG levels tended to increase and HDL-C levels tended to decrease whereas systolic and diastolic BP, HbA1c, and BUN CT were significantly increased and eGFR was significantly reduced (p \ 0.005). Cinnamon supplementation reduced plasma glucose, HbA1c, triglyceride, TG/HDL-C ratio, and BP and increased HDL-C levels and eGFR in subjects with T2DM. Cinnamon supplementation may be beneficial for those with T2DM to prevent and control diabetic complications.