Hira Sohail, Aamenah Malik, Khalid Parvez Lone.
Bone profile and nutritional parameters in normal and beta-thalassemia major children.
Pak J Pathol Jan ;30(3):72-5.

Objectives: To compare and correlate bone density parameters and nutritional status parameters in 5-11 years old normal and b-thalassemia major children. Material and Methods:In this cross-sectional comparative study, 65 apparently healthy children from govt. schools and 65 b-thalassemia major children from thalassemia departments of local hospitals were included. Their age was 5-11 years. All children were examined for nutritional data. Height, weight, BMI, midarm circumference, subscapular and triceps skinfold thickness were calculated and recorded using Herpenden caliper and anthropometric measurements. Quantitative ultrasound bone dimensions i.e. Z-score, Amplitude dependent swiftness of sound (Ad-SOS) and bone transduction time (BTT) were used to assess bone health of both groups of children i.e. subjects and healthy controls. Results: A total of 130 children (65 healthy and 65 b-thalassemia major) were assessed for bone health (Quantitative ultrasound) and nutritional status (weight, height, BMI, triceps, subscapular and midarm circumference). It was observed that bone profile and nutritional parameters were significantly reduced in b-thalassemia major children. Noteworthy positive association of Ad-SOS was detected with height and weight. Similarly, substantial encouraging connection of BTT was noticed with weight, height and midarm circumference in b-thalassemia major children. Conclusion: This study highlights the role of nutrition in improving the health of b-thalassemia major children. It is the need of the hour to improve the quality of life of thalassemia children by providing adequate nutrition.

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