Possible ameliorative effect of taurine in the treatment of iron‐deficiency anaemia in female university students of Gaza, Palestine

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the haematological effects of adding the antioxidant taurine to iron sulfate in the treatment of iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA). A sample of 730 students from Al-Azhar University, Gaza, in Palestine underwent screening with complete blood counts and serum samples. In subjects with microcytosis/hypochromasia, Alpha2 delta2 (HbA2) and serum concentrations of iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), ferritin and taurine were determined. Samples from 17 normocytic, normochromic, and non-anaemic subjects were used as baseline controls. At base-line, 81 of the 730 subjects (11.1%) had microcytosis/hypochromasia, 26 (3.6%) were diagnosed as beta-thalassemia carriers, none of which was iron deficient. Four subjects had microcytosis of unknown cause. Fifty-one subjects (all females) had iron-deficiency anaemia and were included in the therapeutic study, which lasted for 20 wk. They were matched for Hb into pairs and were treated with oral iron (325 mg of slow-release iron sulfate). In addition, they were, in a double-blind procedure, randomised to additional oral taurine (1000 mg d(-1) at a cost comparable to that of adding ascorbic acid) or placebo. Mean S-taurine was significantly lower in the IDA subjects than in the controls. After 20 wk of iron supplementation, both the taurine and placebo group significantly improved their Hb concentrations and normalised the markers of iron deficiency. Apart from the expected, albeit in this study mild side-effects of oral iron, no significant side-effects were noted. In the taurine group, there was a statistically significant additive positive change from the baseline values on Hb (2.67 +/- 1.24 g dL(-1)), red blood cell (RBC) count [(0.57 +/- 0.25) x 1012 L(-1)] and serum ferritin (30.33 +/- 17.99 microg L(-1)) as compared to placebo group values, which were 1.80 +/- 1.10 g dL-1, (0.39 +/- 0.36) x 1012 L(-1), and 20.11 +/- 7.34 microg L(-1), respectively. Oral taurine appears to increase the effectiveness of oral iron in the treatment of IDA, and has no significant side-effects. This merits further cost-benefit and clinical analyses.

Taurine: a critical nutrient for future fish feeds

“…Nevertheless, there is a growing -albeit very fragmented and sometimes conflictingbody of data suggesting that taurine plays a role in fish health and immunity. Taurine has been, in some cases including humans (Sirdah et al, 2002), associated with decreased hematocrit. Decreased hematocrit was observed in S. quinqueradiata (Takagi et al, 2006a), where taurine-deficient fish…”

Iron deficiency anemia among kindergarten children living in the marginalized areas of Gaza Strip Palestine

“…As anemia worsens, multiple cardiovascular signs generally start to appear, beginning with tachycardia, palpitations, impaired ventricular performance, cardiomegaly, and sometimes cardiac arrhythmia and congestive heart failure. Furthermore, red blood cells of anemic subjects are more vulnerable to oxidation, concomitant to increased lipid peroxidation and diminished antioxidant defense and enzymes 11 . On the national economical level, IDA lowers the work capacity, causing serious economic difficulties and obstacles to national development strategic plans 2., 13., 14.…”

Homocysteine and vitamin B12 status and iron deficiency anemia in female university students from Gaza Strip, Palestine

“…The WHO reports more troubling prevalences of IDA in developing countries showing that one in every two pregnant woman and 30–40% of preschool children are likely to be anemic, mainly due to iron deficiency 3 . In Palestine, IDA is recognized as an important health problem and different studies involving different age groups and both genders have underscored the magnitude of IDA as a major public health challenge for improving the health status especially in refugee camps and among vulnerable at-risk groups 4, 5, 6, 7. The consequences of anemia are not limited to poor pregnancy outcomes, impaired physical and cognitive development, and increased risk of morbidity in children8, 9, 10 but affect national productivity and economics 11, 12, 13…”