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Sickle Cell Anemia - References
Get support for sickle cell anemia by focusing on your unique nutritional needs. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.
- Fight back with fish oil
Reduce the frequency of severe pain episodes by taking a daily fish oil supplement providing 33 mg of EPA and 23 mg of DHA for every 2.2 pounds of body weight
- Think zinc
Under the supervision of a doctor, take a daily supplement of 100 mg of zinc, plus 2 mg of copper, to help prevent cell damage and speed healing of leg ulcers associated with sickle cell anemia
- Fill up on fluids
Drink plenty of water and other fluids to maintain good circulation
- Take a test
Have your blood homocysteine levels checked to find out if daily folic acid supplements of 1 to 4 mg are right for you, or to discover if you have a vitamin B12 deficiency that requires treatment
Also indexed as:
- hemoglobin SS disease,
- SCD,
- sickle cell anemia,
- sickle cell disease
About this treatment
1. Tangney CC, Phillips G, Bell RA, et al. Selected indices of micronutrient status in adult patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Am J Hematol 1989;32:161–6.
2. Phillips G, Tangney CC. Relationship of plasma alpha tocopherol to index of clinical severity in individuals with sickle cell anemia. Am J Hematol 1992;41:227–31.
3. Chiu D, Vichinsky E, Ho SL, et al. Vitamin C deficiency in patients with sickle cell anemia. Am J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 1990;12:262–7.
4. Muskiet FA, Muskiet FD, Meiborg G, Schermer JG. Supplementation of patients with homozygous sickle cell disease with zinc, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin C, soybean oil, and fish oil. Am J Clin Nutr 1991;54:736–44.
5. Tomer A, Kasey S, Connor WE, et al. Reduction of pain episodes and prothrombotic activity in sickle cell disease by dietary n-3 fatty acids. Thromb Haemost 2001;85:966–74.
6. Tomer A, Kasey S, Connor WE, et al. Reduction of pain episodes and prothrombotic activity in sickle cell disease by dietary n-3 fatty acids. Thromb Haemost 2001;85:966–74.
7. Ohnishi ST, Ohnishi T, Ogunmola GB. Sickle cell anemia: A potential nutritional approach for a molecular disease. Nutrition 2000;16:330–8.
8. van der Dijs FP, Schnog JJ, Brouwer DA, et al. Elevated homocysteine levels indicate suboptimal folate status in pediatric sickle cell patients. Am J Hematol 1998;59:192–8.
9. Houston PE, Rana S, Sekhasaria S, et al. Homocysteine in sickle cell disease: relationship to stroke. Am J Med 1997;103:192–6.
10. Alpert MA. Homocysteine, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis. South Med J 1999;92:858–65 [review].
11. Houston PE, Rana S, Sekhasaria S, et al. Homocysteine in sickle cell disease: relationship to stroke. Am J Med 1997;103:192–6.
12. al-Momen AK. Diminished vitamin B12 levels in patients with severe sickle cell disease. J Intern Med 1995;237:551–5.
13. Lin YK. Folic acid deficiency in sickle cell anemia. Scand J Haematol 1975;14:71–9.
14. Natta CL, Reynolds RD. Apparent vitamin B6 deficiency in sickle cell anemia. Am J Clin Nutr 1984;40:235–9.
15. Alpert MA. Homocysteine, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis. South Med J 1999;92:858–65 [review].
16. van der Dijs FP, Schnog JJ, Brouwer DA, et al. Elevated homocysteine levels indicate suboptimal folate status in pediatric sickle cell patients. Am J Hematol 1998;59:192–8.
17. Rabb LM, Grandison Y, Mason K, et al. A trial of folate supplementation in children with homozygous sickle cell disease. Br J Haematol 1983;54:589–94.
18. Waterbury L. Anemia. In Barker LR, Burton JR, Zieve PD. Principles of ambulatory medicine, 4th ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1995, 605.
19. Morris CR, Morris SM Jr, Hagar W, et al. Arginine therapy: a new treatment for pulmonary hypertension in sickle cell disease? Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2003;168:63–9.
20. El-Beshlawy A, Abd El Raouf E, Mostafa F, et al. Diastolic dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension in sickle cell anemia: is there a role for L-carnitine treatment? Acta Haematol 2006;115:91–6.
21. Osifo BO, Adeyokunnu A, Parmentier Y, et al. Abnormalities of serum transcobalamins in sickle cell disease (HbSS) in Black Africa. Scand J Haematol 1983;30:135–40.
22. al-Momen AK. Diminished vitamin B12 levels in patients with severe sickle cell disease. J Intern Med 1995;237:551–5.
23. al-Momen AK. Diminished vitamin B12 levels in patients with severe sickle cell disease. J Intern Med 1995;237:551–5.
24. van der Dijs FP, Schnog JJ, Brouwer DA, et al. Elevated homocysteine levels indicate suboptimal folate status in pediatric sickle cell patients. Am J Hematol 1998;59:192–8.
25. Houston PE, Rana S, Sekhasaria S, et al. Homocysteine in sickle cell disease: relationship to stroke. Am J Med 1997;103:192–6.
26. Alpert MA. Homocysteine, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis. South Med J 1999;92:858–65 [review].
27. Houston PE, Rana S, Sekhasaria S, et al. Homocysteine in sickle cell disease: relationship to stroke. Am J Med 1997;103:192–6.
28. al-Momen AK. Diminished vitamin B12 levels in patients with severe sickle cell disease. J Intern Med 1995;237:551–5.
29. Lin YK. Folic acid deficiency in sickle cell anemia. Scand J Haematol 1975;14:71–9.
30. Natta CL, Reynolds RD. Apparent vitamin B6 deficiency in sickle cell anemia. Am J Clin Nutr 1984;40:235–9.
31. Alpert MA. Homocysteine, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis. South Med J 1999;92:858–65 [review].
32. van der Dijs FP, Schnog JJ, Brouwer DA, et al. Elevated homocysteine levels indicate suboptimal folate status in pediatric sickle cell patients. Am J Hematol 1998;59:192–8.
33. Rabb LM, Grandison Y, Mason K, et al. A trial of folate supplementation in children with homozygous sickle cell disease. Br J Haematol 1983;54:589–94.
34. Waterbury L. Anemia. In Barker LR, Burton JR, Zieve PD. Principles of ambulatory medicine, 4th ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1995, 605.
35. Tangney CC, Phillips G, Bell RA, et al. Selected indices of micronutrient status in adult patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Am J Hematol 1989;32:161–6.
36. Chiu D, Vichinsky E, Ho SL, et al. Vitamin C deficiency in patients with sickle cell anemia. Am J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 1990;12:262–7.
37. Jain SK, Ross JD, Duett J, Herbst JJ. Low plasma prealbumin and carotenoid levels in sickle cell disease patients. Am J Med Sci 1990;229:13–5.
38. Jain SK, Williams DM. Reduced levels of plasma ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in sickle cell disease patients: its possible role in the oxidant damage to sickle cells in vitro. Clin Chim Acta 1985;149:257–61.
39. Natta C, Stacewicz-Sapuntzakis M, Bhagavan H, Bowen P. Low serum levels of carotenoids in sickle cell anemia. Eur J Haematol 1988;41:131–5.
40. Essein, EU. Plasma levels of retinol, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol in sickle cell anemia. Centr Afr J Med 1995;41:48–50.
41. Ndombi IO, Kinoti SN. Serum vitamin E and the sickling status in children with sickle cell anemia. East Afr Med J 1990;67:720–5.
42. Phillips G, Tangney CC. Relationship of plasma alpha tocopherol to index of clinical severity in individuals with sickle cell anemia. Am J Hematol 1992;41:227–31.
43. Natta CL, Machlin LJ, Brin M. A decrease in irreversibly sickled erythrocytes in sickle cell anemia patients given vitamin E. Am J Clin Nutr 1980;33:968–71.
44. Muskiet FA, Muskiet FD, Meiborg G, Schermer JG. Supplementation of patients with homozygous sickle cell disease with zinc, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin C, soybean oil, and fish oil. Am J Clin Nutr 1991;54:736–44.
45. Tomer A, Kasey S, Connor WE, et al. Reduction of pain episodes and prothrombotic activity in sickle cell disease by dietary n-3 fatty acids. Thromb Haemost 2001;85:966–74.
46. Tomer A, Kasey S, Connor WE, et al. Reduction of pain episodes and prothrombotic activity in sickle cell disease by dietary n-3 fatty acids. Thromb Haemost 2001;85:966–74.
47. Pellegrini Braga JA, Kerbauy J, Fisberg M. Zinc, copper and iron and their interrelations in the growth of sickle cell patients. Arch Latinoam Nutr 1995;45:198–203.
48. Brewer GJ, Brewer LF, Prasad AS. Suppression of irreversibly sickled erythrocytes by zinc therapy in sickle cell anemia. J Lab Clin Med 1977;90:549–54.
49. Serjeant GR, Galloway RE, Gueri MC. Oral zinc sulphate in sickle-cell ulcers. Lancet 1970;2:891–3.
50. Bao B, Prasad AS, Beck FWJ, et al. Zinc supplementation decreases oxidative stress, incidence of infection, and generation of inflammatory cytokines in sickle cell disease patients. Transl Res 2008;152:67–80.
51. Tangney CC, Phillips G, Bell RA, et al. Selected indices of micronutrient status in adult patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Am J Hematol 1989;32:161–6.
52. Chiu D, Vichinsky E, Ho SL, et al. Vitamin C deficiency in patients with sickle cell anemia. Am J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 1990;12:262–7.
53. Jain SK, Ross JD, Duett J, Herbst JJ. Low plasma prealbumin and carotenoid levels in sickle cell disease patients. Am J Med Sci 1990;229:13–5.
54. Jain SK, Williams DM. Reduced levels of plasma ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in sickle cell disease patients: its possible role in the oxidant damage to sickle cells in vitro. Clin Chim Acta 1985;149:257–61.
55. Natta C, Stacewicz-Sapuntzakis M, Bhagavan H, Bowen P. Low serum levels of carotenoids in sickle cell anemia. Eur J Haematol 1988;41:131–5.
56. Essein, EU. Plasma levels of retinol, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol in sickle cell anemia. Centr Afr J Med 1995;41:48–50.
57. Ndombi IO, Kinoti SN. Serum vitamin E and the sickling status in children with sickle cell anemia. East Afr Med J 1990;67:720–5.
58. Phillips G, Tangney CC. Relationship of plasma alpha tocopherol to index of clinical severity in individuals with sickle cell anemia. Am J Hematol 1992;41:227–31.
59. Natta CL, Machlin LJ, Brin M. A decrease in irreversibly sickled erythrocytes in sickle cell anemia patients given vitamin E. Am J Clin Nutr 1980;33:968–71.
60. Ohnishi ST, Ohnishi T, Ogunmola GB. Sickle cell anemia: A potential nutritional approach for a molecular disease. Nutrition 2000;16:330–8.
61. De Franceschi L, Bachir D, Galacteros F, et al. Oral magnesium pidolate: effects of long-term administration in patients with sickle cell disease. Br J Haematol 2000;108:284–9.
62. De Franceschi L, Bachir D, Balacteros F, et al. Oral magnesium supplements reduce erythrocyte dehydration in patients with sickle cell disease. J Clin Invest 1997;100:1847–52.
63. De Franceschi L, Bachir D, Galacteros F, et al. Oral magnesium pidolate: effects of long-term administration in patients with sickle cell disease. Br J Haematol 2000;108:284–9.
64. Tangney CC, Phillips G, Bell RA, et al. Selected indices of micronutrient status in adult patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Am J Hematol 1989;32:161–6.
65. Chiu D, Vichinsky E, Ho SL, et al. Vitamin C deficiency in patients with sickle cell anemia. Am J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 1990;12:262–7.
66. Jain SK, Ross JD, Duett J, Herbst JJ. Low plasma prealbumin and carotenoid levels in sickle cell disease patients. Am J Med Sci 1990;229:13–5.
67. Jain SK, Williams DM. Reduced levels of plasma ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in sickle cell disease patients: its possible role in the oxidant damage to sickle cells in vitro. Clin Chim Acta 1985;149:257–61.
68. Natta C, Stacewicz-Sapuntzakis M, Bhagavan H, Bowen P. Low serum levels of carotenoids in sickle cell anemia. Eur J Haematol 1988;41:131–5.
69. Essein, EU. Plasma levels of retinol, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol in sickle cell anemia. Centr Afr J Med 1995;41:48–50.
70. Ndombi IO, Kinoti SN. Serum vitamin E and the sickling status in children with sickle cell anemia. East Afr Med J 1990;67:720–5.
71. Phillips G, Tangney CC. Relationship of plasma alpha tocopherol to index of clinical severity in individuals with sickle cell anemia. Am J Hematol 1992;41:227–31.
72. Natta CL, Machlin LJ, Brin M. A decrease in irreversibly sickled erythrocytes in sickle cell anemia patients given vitamin E. Am J Clin Nutr 1980;33:968–71.
73. van der Dijs FP, Schnog JJ, Brouwer DA, et al. Elevated homocysteine levels indicate suboptimal folate status in pediatric sickle cell patients. Am J Hematol 1998;59:192–8.
74. Houston PE, Rana S, Sekhasaria S, et al. Homocysteine in sickle cell disease: relationship to stroke. Am J Med 1997;103:192–6.
75. Alpert MA. Homocysteine, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis. South Med J 1999;92:858–65 [review].
76. Houston PE, Rana S, Sekhasaria S, et al. Homocysteine in sickle cell disease: relationship to stroke. Am J Med 1997;103:192–6.
77. al-Momen AK. Diminished vitamin B12 levels in patients with severe sickle cell disease. J Intern Med 1995;237:551–5.
78. Lin YK. Folic acid deficiency in sickle cell anemia. Scand J Haematol 1975;14:71–9.
79. Natta CL, Reynolds RD. Apparent vitamin B6 deficiency in sickle cell anemia. Am J Clin Nutr 1984;40:235–9.
80. Alpert MA. Homocysteine, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis. South Med J 1999;92:858–65 [review].
81. van der Dijs FP, Schnog JJ, Brouwer DA, et al. Elevated homocysteine levels indicate suboptimal folate status in pediatric sickle cell patients. Am J Hematol 1998;59:192–8.
82. Rabb LM, Grandison Y, Mason K, et al. A trial of folate supplementation in children with homozygous sickle cell disease. Br J Haematol 1983;54:589–94.
83. Waterbury L. Anemia. In Barker LR, Burton JR, Zieve PD. Principles of ambulatory medicine, 4th ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1995, 605.
84. Kark JA, Kale MP, Tarassoff PG, et al. Inhibition of erythrocyte sickling in vitro by pyridoxal. J Clin Invest 1978;62:888–91.
85. Kark JA, Tarassoff PG, Bongiovanni R. Pyridoxal phosphate as an antisickling agent in vitro. J Clin Invest 1983;71:1224–9.
86. Flores L, Pais R, Buchanan I, et al. Pyridoxal 5’-phosphate levels in children with sickle cell disease. Am J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 1988;10:236–40.
87. Reed JD, Redding-Lallinger R, Orringer EP. Nutrition and sickle cell disease. Am J Hematol 1987;24:441–55.
88. Natta CL, Reynolds RD. Apparent vitamin B6 deficiency in sickle cell anemia. Am J Clin Nutr 1984;40:235–9.
89. Tangney CC, Phillips G, Bell RA, et al. Selected indices of micronutrient status in adult patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Am J Hematol 1989;32:161–6.
90. Chiu D, Vichinsky E, Ho SL, et al. Vitamin C deficiency in patients with sickle cell anemia. Am J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 1990;12:262–7.
91. Jain SK, Ross JD, Duett J, Herbst JJ. Low plasma prealbumin and carotenoid levels in sickle cell disease patients. Am J Med Sci 1990;229:13–5.
92. Jain SK, Williams DM. Reduced levels of plasma ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in sickle cell disease patients: its possible role in the oxidant damage to sickle cells in vitro. Clin Chim Acta 1985;149:257–61.
93. Natta C, Stacewicz-Sapuntzakis M, Bhagavan H, Bowen P. Low serum levels of carotenoids in sickle cell anemia. Eur J Haematol 1988;41:131–5.
94. Essein, EU. Plasma levels of retinol, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol in sickle cell anemia. Centr Afr J Med 1995;41:48–50.
95. Ndombi IO, Kinoti SN. Serum vitamin E and the sickling status in children with sickle cell anemia. East Afr Med J 1990;67:720–5.
96. Phillips G, Tangney CC. Relationship of plasma alpha tocopherol to index of clinical severity in individuals with sickle cell anemia. Am J Hematol 1992;41:227–31.
97. Natta CL, Machlin LJ, Brin M. A decrease in irreversibly sickled erythrocytes in sickle cell anemia patients given vitamin E. Am J Clin Nutr 1980;33:968–71.
98. Muskiet FA, Muskiet FD, Meiborg G, Schermer JG. Supplementation of patients with homozygous sickle cell disease with zinc, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin C, soybean oil, and fish oil. Am J Clin Nutr 1991;54:736–44.
99. Tomer A, Kasey S, Connor WE, et al. Reduction of pain episodes and prothrombotic activity in sickle cell disease by dietary n-3 fatty acids. Thromb Haemost 2001;85:966–74.
100. Tomer A, Kasey S, Connor WE, et al. Reduction of pain episodes and prothrombotic activity in sickle cell disease by dietary n-3 fatty acids. Thromb Haemost 2001;85:966–74.
101. Tangney CC, Phillips G, Bell RA, et al. Selected indices of micronutrient status in adult patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Am J Hematol 1989;32:161–6.
102. Chiu D, Vichinsky E, Ho SL, et al. Vitamin C deficiency in patients with sickle cell anemia. Am J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 1990;12:262–7.
103. Jain SK, Ross JD, Duett J, Herbst JJ. Low plasma prealbumin and carotenoid levels in sickle cell disease patients. Am J Med Sci 1990;229:13–5.
104. Jain SK, Williams DM. Reduced levels of plasma ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in sickle cell disease patients: its possible role in the oxidant damage to sickle cells in vitro. Clin Chim Acta 1985;149:257–61.
105. Natta C, Stacewicz-Sapuntzakis M, Bhagavan H, Bowen P. Low serum levels of carotenoids in sickle cell anemia. Eur J Haematol 1988;41:131–5.
106. Essein, EU. Plasma levels of retinol, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol in sickle cell anemia. Centr Afr J Med 1995;41:48–50.
107. Ndombi IO, Kinoti SN. Serum vitamin E and the sickling status in children with sickle cell anemia. East Afr Med J 1990;67:720–5.
108. Phillips G, Tangney CC. Relationship of plasma alpha tocopherol to index of clinical severity in individuals with sickle cell anemia. Am J Hematol 1992;41:227–31.
109. Natta CL, Machlin LJ, Brin M. A decrease in irreversibly sickled erythrocytes in sickle cell anemia patients given vitamin E. Am J Clin Nutr 1980;33:968–71.
110. Muskiet FA, Muskiet FD, Meiborg G, Schermer JG. Supplementation of patients with homozygous sickle cell disease with zinc, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin C, soybean oil, and fish oil. Am J Clin Nutr 1991;54:736–44.
111. Tomer A, Kasey S, Connor WE, et al. Reduction of pain episodes and prothrombotic activity in sickle cell disease by dietary n-3 fatty acids. Thromb Haemost 2001;85:966–74.
112. Tomer A, Kasey S, Connor WE, et al. Reduction of pain episodes and prothrombotic activity in sickle cell disease by dietary n-3 fatty acids. Thromb Haemost 2001;85:966–74.
Last Review: 05-11-2011
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The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2011.
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