Thalassemia Patients and Friends

Discussion Forums => Thalassemia Minor => Topic started by: jasonrobbins on October 27, 2011, 12:25:14 AM

Title: Thalassemia Minor, no symptoms and trying to eat a healthy diet- What to do?
Post by: jasonrobbins on October 27, 2011, 12:25:14 AM

So I was diagnosed with Thal Minor but I never knew I had it until some unrelated blood work. Doctor said not to take iron supp. and I avoid vitamins with iron.

But I'm on a diet now and eat a lot of salads, broccoli, etc....foods high in iron. I don't exclusively eat those foods (I eat chicken and rice and other stuff) but I am worried I eat too much iron and it will build up in my system.

Any insight into this?

Title: Re: Thalassemia Minor, no symptoms and trying to eat a healthy diet- What to do?
Post by: tempomat on October 27, 2011, 01:49:21 PM

As a thal minor you should not worry about dietary iron, especially from vegetables.  Avoid artificial supplementation from multivitamins and check your ferritin, TIBC and UIBC levels once a year along with your other blood work to make sure you are not deficient or overloaded.

Title: Re: Thalassemia Minor, no symptoms and trying to eat a healthy diet- What to do?
Post by: Andy Battaglia on October 27, 2011, 02:36:01 PM

I agree. Unless your Hb is extremely low for a minor, it is highly unlikely that you would have excess absorption of iron from food. Eating healthy foods is far more important than limiting dietary iron intake.