Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Delayed puberty is a great problem of thalassemia patients. Zinc is antioxidant and is available in red blood cell (RBC) membrane and plays an effective role in survival of RBC. Some part of growth retardation in thalassemia seems to be related to zinc deficiency. The aim of this study was to investigate correlation of serum copper and zinc concentration with prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) in thalassemia major patients.

 Materials and Methods

 In this cross-sectional study, 140 thalassemia major patients (79 male and 61 female) reffered to Sarvar Center in Mashhad. Serum copper and zinc levels were measured by atomic absorption (Spectrophotometer) and results were compared with 140 sex and age matched healthy subjects. Data were analyzed by SPSS18 and t-test.

 Results

 Thalassemic patients had significantly lower serum zinc (60.11 ± 19.01 vs. 87.09 ± 23.68 (µg/dl)) and copper levels (90.45 ± 29.8 vs. 105.59 ± 32.5 (µg/dl)) compared with healthy subjects (p<0.001). In thalassemia patients PAB value was very increased compared with healthy subjects (70.2 ± 19.9 vs 78.764 ± 25.583 HK)(p<0.003)

 Conclusions

 Because of the high prevalence of low serum zinc and copper levels in thalassemic patients, use of zinc and copper supplementation in thalassemic patients was strongly recommended.