Vitamin D levels are low in adult patients with sickle cell disease in Jamaica and West Africa

Abstract

BackgroundPatients with sickle cell disease in the USA have been noted to have lower levels of vitamin D – measured as 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) – compared to controls. Average serum 25(OH)D levels are also substantially lower in African Americans than whites, while population distributions of 25(OH)D among Jamaicans of African descent and West Africans are the same as among USA whites. The purpose of this study was to examine whether adult patients with sickle cell disease living in tropical regions had reduced 25(OH)D relative to the general population.MethodsWe analyzed serum 25(OH)D in stored samples collected from studies in Jamaica and West Africa of adult patients with sickle cell disease and adult population controls.ResultsIn samples of 20 Jamaicans and 50 West Africans with sickle cell disease mean values of 25(OH)D were 37% and 39% lower than controls, respectively. Metabolic abnormalities in the absorption and conversion pathways are possible causes for the consistent relative deficiency of 25(OH)D in sickle cell disease.ConclusionsLow 25(OH)D levels in tropical Africa where the burden of sickle cell disease is highest, deserve further investigation, and a randomized trial is warranted to address efficacy of supplementation.

Transcranial Doppler velocity among Jamaican children with sickle cell anaemia: determining the significance of haematological values and nutrition

“…For example, the presence of alpha‐thalassaemia trait has been associated with lower TCD velocities (Hsu et al , ; Bernaudin et al , ; Cox et al , ; Belisario et al , ), while the concomitant inheritance of glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency as well as beta gene haplotypes may have a variable impact on TCD velocities and stroke (Flanagan et al , ; Alsultan et al , ; Cox et al , ; Belisario et al , ). There are emerging data that variation in environmental factors, such as weather and seasonality, as well as prevalence of bacteraemia or nutritional deficiency, such as vitamin D, across regions may underlie the variability of clinical expression of SCA‐related complications (Jones et al , ; Atkinson et al , ; Smith et al , ; Mekontso Dessap et al , ; Tayo et al , ).…”

Vitamin D level, lipid profile, and vitamin D receptor and transporter gene variants in sickle cell disease patients from Kurdistan of Iraq

“…The levels of 25(OH)-D are in uenced by genetic variation in receptors and other components involved in vitamin D metabolism (6).…”

Comparative study of the growth and nutritional status of Brazilian and Nigerian school-aged children with sickle cell disease

“…36 Low dietary intake of vitamin D rich foods and increased utilization of vitamin D for bone remodelling could have been the main contributory factors to the low serum vitamin D among those São Paulo adolescents. [36][37][38] In the light of its reported protective effects on musculoskeletal health, including pain regulation and immunomodulatory benefits, it is recommended that routine screening for vitamin D status and subsequent supplementation should be incorporated in the management plans for Brazilian patients with SCD.…”