BACKGROUND:Beta thalassemia major is associated with lipid profile abnormalities, presented as a lower level of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and higher triglyceride level; increasing risk for cardiovascular complications. The previous studies indicated that Vitamin D give a positive impact on the lipid profile in healthy children population. However, its role needs to be determined in a high-risk group of children with beta-thalassemia major.AIM:To determine the correlation between vitamin D (25-OHD) and lipid profile among children with beta-thalassemia major.METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted in a general tertiary hospital in Medan, Sumatera Utara, Indonesia from January to March 2018. Subjects were children aged below 18-year-old with beta-thalassemia major. The measurement of vitamin D (25-OHD) level and 10-12 hour overnight fasting serum lipid profile including total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, and LDL were performed. The analysis was done using Pearson’s correlation and Fisher test. P value < 0.05 was considered significant.RESULTS:Forty-five subjects were enrolled in this study, with serum ferritin level ranged from 1017 to 13372 ng/mL. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (a 25-OHD level less than 20 ng/mL) in this study was 40%, with mean value at 20.6 (SD 5.3) ng/mL. The markers for cardiovascular risk were observed to be elevated, both in Atherogenic Index Plasma (0.32 ± 0.25) and TC: HDL ratio (4.2 ± 1.5). Statistical analysis revealed that Vitamin D had positive correlation with total cholesterol (r = 0.302, p = 0.044) and HDL (r = 0.297, p = 0.048). There was no significant correlation between both vitamin D and triglyceride (p = 0.305), or vitamin D and LDL (p = 0.727).CONCLUSION:Vitamin D correlated positively with total cholesterol and HDL in children with beta-thalassemia major. Positive correlation to HDL indicated a beneficial effect of vitamin D to reduce the risk of cardiovascular complication.

Latar belakang. Komplikasi dari thalassemia beta mayor disebabkan akumulasi zat besi yang diukur melalui pemeriksaan feritin. Penyandang thalassemia beta mayor juga mengalami gangguan profil lipid akibat kelebihan zat besi. Namun, penelitian mengenai hubungan mengenai feritin dengan profil lipid masih terbatas dan berbeda-beda hasilnya. Tujuan. Mengetahui pengaruh kadar feritin serum terhadap kadar profil lipid pada anak penyandang thalassemia beta mayorMetode. Penelitian berupa studi analitik observasional dengan desain potong lintang, menganalisis korelasi antara kadar feritin serum dengan profil lipid (kolesterol total, trigliserida, HDL, dan LDL) pada anak penyandang thalassemia beta mayor. Dilakukan pada bulan Januari – April 2018. Uji statistik menggunakan uji korelasi Spearman. Tingkat kemaknaan dinyatakan dengan p < 0.05.Hasil. Subjek 49 orang, rentang usia 1,6-17,9 tahun. Jenis kelamin terbanyak adalah perempuan (55%). Terdapat korelasi bermakna antara kadar feritin serum dengan kadar HDL (r=-0,317, p= 0,026). Tidak terdapat korelasi bermakna antara kadar feritin serum dengan kadar kolesterol total, trigliserida, dan LDL ( p <0.05).Kesimpulan.Terdapat korelasi negatif yang bermakna antara kadar feritin serum dengan kadar HDL pada penyandang thalassemia beta mayor.