review · Medicine
Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited disorder marked by chronic anaemia, vaso-occlusive events, and systemic complications. Malnutrition is widespread among individuals living with the condition across diverse age groups and severities, yet it remains relatively underexplored. The underlying biology involves chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and hypermetabolism, all of which drive up nutritional requirements. These pressures are further compounded by reduced appetite, nutrient malabsorption, dietary limitations, and socioeconomic barriers. Deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients frequently worsen clinical outcomes, contributing to higher rates of pain crises, infections, and diminished quality of life. Interventions such as targeted supplementation, tailored nutrition plans, and dietary counselling show promise in addressing these deficits. However, their sustained success depends on overcoming real-world obstacles, particularly inconsistent patient adherence and unequal access to healthcare services.
Sickle cell anaemia places extreme metabolic demands on the body, making proper nutrition vital for patient outcomes. Recognising malnutrition as a direct driver of severe pain crises and infections highlights the need for supportive nutritional care. Addressing these dietary shortfalls alongside standard clinical treatment can directly improve daily health, reduce avoidable complications, and enhance overall quality of life for vulnerable patient populations.
The findings highlight opportunities for clinical dietitians and healthcare providers to deploy specialised micronutrient supplements, formulated foods, and personalised dietary programmes for managing sickle cell anaemia. Because this work is a literature review, it does not offer a proprietary product or tested formulation. Real-world application remains in the early conceptual stages, requiring the development of accessible, low-cost nutritional interventions and digital adherence tools adapted to settings with limited healthcare infrastructure.
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Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) is a hereditary hemoglobinopathy characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia, vaso-occlusive events, and a wide range of clinical complications. Malnutrition, often an underexplored aspect of this complex condition, plays a critical role in disease management and overall patient well-being. This publication provides a comprehensive review of the prevalence, impact, and interventions related to malnutrition in individuals with SCA. A thorough literature review reveals the multifaceted challenges faced by SCA patients in maintaining adequate nutrition. The pathophysiology of SCA, involving chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and hypermetabolism, contributes to increased nutritional requirements and altered dietary patterns. Factors such as reduced appetite, nutrient malabsorption, dietary restrictions, and socioeconomic disparities further exacerbate the risk of malnutrition. Malnutrition is a prevalent issue among individuals with SCA, affecting patients of different age groups and disease severities. Nutritional deficiencies, including vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients, are common in this population. The impact of malnutrition on disease outcomes is significant, with associations between nutrient status and complications such as pain crises, infections, and impaired quality of life. This paper also reviews nutritional interventions aimed at addressing malnutrition in SCA patients. While dietary counseling, supplementation, and personalized nutrition plans have shown promise in improving nutritional status, challenges such as patient adherence and access to healthcare must be addressed to optimize their effectiveness.
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DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000038164
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