Vitamin D Deficiency in Adult Sickle Cell Patients

Peter C Boettger; Charles L Knupp; Darla K Liles; Kaitlyn Walker

doi:10.1016/j.jnma.2016.10.003

Vitamin D Deficiency in Adult Sickle Cell Patients

J Natl Med Assoc. 2017;109(1):36-43. doi: 10.1016/j.jnma.2016.10.003. Epub 2016 Nov 8.

Authors

Peter C Boettger¹, Charles L Knupp², Darla K Liles², Kaitlyn Walker²

Affiliations

¹ East Carolina University School of Medicine, Deptarment of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, 600 Moye Blvd., Greenville, NC 27834, USA. Electronic address: BOETTGERP@ecu.edu.
² East Carolina University School of Medicine, Deptarment of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, 600 Moye Blvd., Greenville, NC 27834, USA.

PMID: 28259214
DOI: 10.1016/j.jnma.2016.10.003

Abstract

Introduction: Vitamin D levels in adult black Americans with sickle cell disease (SCD) are comparatively lower than those found in the general population of black Americans. The objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in adults with various subtypes of sickle cell disease and identify risk factors for vitamin D deficiency.

Methods: In a retrospective study serum Vitamin D25(OH)D and/or VitaminD1,25(OH)2D levels were obtained in 120 subjects with sickle cell disease. Baseline studies also included LFTs, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, and creatinine levels. In a portion of subjects that were treated with oral ergocalciferol vitamin D levels and chemistries were obtained within 6 months of treatment. Data was statistically analyzed with Welch two sample t-tests and individual simple linear regressions (including logarithmic values) for each variable.

Results: Vitamin D25(OH)D levels were found to be significantly lower in a group of subjects with Hgb SS disease, than in a group with other subtypes of sickle cell disease. In both groups combined, significant (p = 0.05) and clinically suggestive negative correlations with Vitamin D25(OH)D were seen for total bilirubin and total protein, respectively. When total bilirubin and total protein levels were compared between the Hgb SS and HgbS/other groups, t-test revealed these levels were significantly higher in the Hgb SS group levels at p < 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively.

Implications: Low total Vitamin D25(OH)D levels in adults with sickle cell disease may be a reflection of chronic inflammation and overall disease severity.

Keywords: Sickle cell disease; Vitamin D binding protein; Vitamin D deficiency; Vitamin D1,25(OH)2D; Vitamin D25(OH)D.

MeSH terms

Anemia, Sickle Cell* / blood
Anemia, Sickle Cell* / diagnosis
Anemia, Sickle Cell* / ethnology
Black or African American
Correlation of Data
Erythrocytes, Abnormal
Female
Humans
Inflammation / blood
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Severity of Illness Index
Vitamin D / blood*
Vitamin D Deficiency* / blood
Vitamin D Deficiency* / diagnosis

Substances

Vitamin D