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City Doctors Find Vitamin Cure For Thalassaemia

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City Doctors Find Vitamin Cure For Thalassaemia
Times of India
16 September 2010
By Prithvijit Mitra
Kolkata, India

Thalassaemia research has been taking steady strides in Kolkata. Now, scientists at the NRS Medical College and Hospital have identified a vitamin that can retard the disintegration of haemoglobin, which leads to the potentially fatal disorder. By slowing down the decay of beta and alpha components of haemoglobin, the vitamin can reduce the need for blood transfusion. The study has been published in a medical journal and the research team is preparing for a human trial.

While researching on the causes that trigger thalassaemia, a team of researchers at the biochemistry department of NRS – led by scientist Monoj Kar – chanced upon oxidative stress as a possible reason. "It breaks up haemoglobin into sub–units, which are the two sets of alpha and beta cells, making iron flow out of them. This leads to a process called fanton reaction which eventually leads to the death of the cell. We found that riboflavin, that is vitamin B2, slows down this disintegration process to a large extent. This could allow thalassaemia patients to go without blood transfusion for a longer period," explained Kar.

The disintegration of haemoglobin and the consequent release of iron into the system could lead to other diseases as well. It often triggers rheumatoid arthritis, renal failure and diabetes. "This is a kind of a vicious cycle. The more iron you have in your system, the higher would be the risk of these diseases. So, the key is to slow down the process even if we can’t stop it completely," said Kar. West Bengal has 26,000 thalassaemia major patients. A majority of them survive on transfusion.

Recently published in a medical journal, the study has raised hopes of at least a partial cure for thalassaemia patients. The decks are being cleared for a human trial which could pave the way riboflavin to be used as a drug.

"The research has indeed shown that it effectively curbs the rate of red blood cell disintegration. Most importantly, this will reduce the flow of iron into the system of thalassaemia patients. The iron acts like free radicals and destroys cells. It could even lead to cancer in the long run," said Ashish Mukhopadhyay, director of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute, Kolkata.

The vitamin B2 could also help to reduce the impact of acquired haematological disorders like acquired hemolytic anaemia, auto–immune hemolytic anaemia, stress anaemia, blood group incompatibility and Rh incompatibility.

Earlier this year, a group of Saha Institute of Nuclear Research (SINP) scientists came up with a pioneering research that could help early detection and better management of H e–beta thalassaemia (HbEß) – a form of the haematogical disease that could be life–threatening. It was globally acknowledged and published in the prestigious journal Proteomics – Clinical Application. Even though the paper had been ready by early 2008, it took the team of scientists almost two years to secure the recognition

Dori:
Has vitamin B2 also a different name?

Andy Battaglia:
B2= Riboflavin.

Sharmin:
This sounds very interesting.  Andy, what is your opinion on using riboflavin as a therapeutic drug to extend the life of transfused blood? 

Thank you,

Sharni

Andy Battaglia:
Well, if anyone ever wonders why I push a B-complex supplement, this should help answer that question. The recommended daily dose is actually quite low, but the supplement I take daily has 100 mg. B2 is necessary for the other B vitamins to be properly utilized, so it has added importance, along with the emerging evidence that it is a good antioxidant. There are various reasons to take antioxidants, but for thals, slowing the breakdown of red blood cells is a big reason. What this article suggests is that this may have application as a concentrated drug. For now, take your B-complex daily.

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