Sickle Cell Disease - Lifestyle Changes

Minerals and Other Natural Substances.

Zinc. Zinc sulphate appears to help reduce red blood cell dehydration. Important studies are reporting that it helps prevent sickle cell crises and reduce pain and life-threatening complications. A study on children with sickle cell suggested that supplements may help improve growth and weight gain. It may also boost the immune system and help protect against bacterial infections. Zinc deficiency is a common nutritional problem in sickle cell disease, so supplements may important.
Magnesium. Magnesium protects against potassium and water loss in sickle cells. Small patient studies are reporting promise for its use in preventing dehydration and increases in the hemoglobin S concentration.
Arginine. Arginine is an amino acid that the body converts to nitric oxide, a natural substance that relaxes blood vessels. The sickle cell process reduces nitric oxide levels, which may be responsible for much of the pain in these patients. Arginine and other substances that convert to nitric oxide are being studied in trials.
L-glutamine is an ordinary amino acid that is heavily used by sickle cells. One study using supplements of this substance reported that after a month it caused changes in the blood that might prove to have benefits for sickle cell patients. Another small study found that daily oral glutamine supplementation improved growth and nutritional measures in children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia.

Vitamins. Patients should take daily folic acid and vitamin B12 and B6 supplements. All are important for reducing homocysteine levels, a risk factor in general for heart disease and which may be particularly damaging in sickle cell patients. Vitamin B6 may have specific anti-sickling properties. Some experts recommend 1 mg folic acid, 6 microgram vitamin B12, and 6 mg vitamin B6.Foods containing one or all of these vitamins include meats, oily fish, poultry, whole grains, dried fortified cereals, soybeans, avocados, baked potatoes with skins, watermelon, plantains, bananas, peanuts, and brewer's yeast. Of note, folic acid can mask pernicious anemia, which is caused by deficiency of vitamin B12 and is more common in African Americans than other populations.

Click the icon to see an image of vitamin B6 sources.

Note on Iron. Although sickle cell disease is often referred to as anemia, iron supplements or iron rich foods should be avoided in patients receiving multiple transfusions, which increase the risk for iron-overload.