Effect of vitamin E supplementation on inflammatory markers and nutrition status in thalassemia intermedia patients

Abstract

Inflammation is a complication found in thalassemic patients. It may be diminished by supplementation of vitamin E. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 12-week vitamin E supplementation on inflammatory markers in patients with thalassemia intermedia who do not required regular blood transfusion. There were 31 patients aged 5-19 years participating in this study. The patients were assigned into the vitamin E group (n = 16) and the control group (n = 15). The results of the study showed that at the end of the study, serum vitamin E concentrations in the patients supplemented with vitamin E (10 IU/kg/d) were significantly increased from their baselines (p < 0.001). However, plasma TNF-α and hs-CRP levels of the patients in both groups did not change from the baseline after vitamin E supplementation. It was found that total energy intake of the patients in the vitamin E group at week 12 were significantly increased from baseline (p = 0.037) and that amount was greater than that in the control group (p = 0.008). The increased dietary intake of the patients in the vitamin E group might relate to improved weight and body mass index of some patients into better categories. This study revealed that vitamin E supplementation did not affect the levels of inflammatory markers, TNF-α and hs-CRP, in patients with thalassemia intermedia. However, it might be beneficial in ameliorating vitamin E levels of the thalassemic patients to the normal range and improving dietary consumption.