Trace Element Levels and Socio-Demography of Pre-Teen Nigerians with Homozygous Sickle Cell Disorder

Abstract

Objectives: Homozygous sickle cell disorder (SCD) children are known to have abnormal anthropometric parameters which mostly have been linked with altered zinc status. Alteration in trace element status which occurs from interaction between essential and non-essential elements has not been well studied in SCD. Therefore, the aim of the study is to relate concentrations of Zn, Cd, and Pb with anthropometric parameters. Moreover, it will be established if correlation (interaction) exists between zinc and these two non-essential elements.
 Methods: Twenty-seven SCD patients and 25 age and sex-matched children with hemoglobin genotype HbAA served as test and control groups respectively. Anthropometric parameters and information on demography, dietary zinc status and socio-economic status were obtained. The plasma and red cells obtained from 5 mL of blood were used to determine zinc and heavy metal (Pb, Cd) levels respectively by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Data were analyzed using Student`s t-test, Chi- square test, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. P< 0.05 was considered significant.
 Results: There were significant differences in the mean values of mid-upper-arm circumference, weight and BMI. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in mean values of head circumference, height and the trace elements in test and control groups. No association between trace elements and BMI as well as between dietary zinc content and socio-economic status was observed.
 Conclusion: the result of the study suggests there is no correlation between the toxic metals and zinc, and it seems that toxic metals play no role in abnormal BMI that is a common feature of SCD.

Sickle Cell Disease Complications and BMI Percentiles of Pediatric Patients

“…These therapeutic/symptom-management options include adequate nutrition, pain control, hydration, prevention of infections, and precautions against adverse weather conditions. Of all these options, the assessment of nutritional level that impacts and provides information about a wide range of metabolic processes in diseased states [15][16][17] can be inferred from BMI percentiles. In SCD, such metallic alterations may give rise to conditions like vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) with severe and frequent pain and inflammation [18][19][20][21].…”

“…In SCD, such metallic alterations may give rise to conditions like vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) with severe and frequent pain and inflammation [18][19][20][21]. BMI percentile has been recommended as an appropriate marker for assessing nutritional status in children [17].…”

Clinical profile, dietary zinc content, and lifestyle habits of adult male and female hbss and hbsc patients

“…sickle cell anemia (SCA), glutamic acid is substituted for valine at the 6 th position of the β-globin chain. 1,2 Patients with this disorder present with varied spectrum of medical crises or clinical events such as acute bone pain, pulmonary crises, vaso-occlusive crises 1 , leg ulcer and priapism. In Nigeria like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, there is high burden of SCD.…”