Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary hemoglobinopathy that imposes a significant burden on global health. Individuals with SCD often experience multiple nutritional deficiencies, among which vitamin D deficiency has emerged as a critical yet under recognized factor contributing to disease complications. This study aimed to assess the vitamin D status in patients with SCD compared to a matched healthy control group, and to explore its correlation with clinical and biological parameters, including the frequency of vaso-occlusive crises (VOC). A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2024 at Bechir Hamza Children's Hospital, Tunis. Sixty-four SCD patients and 63 healthy controls were enrolled. Vitamin D 25(OH)D levels, along with hematologic and biochemical markers, were measured. Statistical analyses included t-tests, chi-square test, ANOVA, and Spearman correlation. Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in the SCD group (15.05 ± 6.6 ng/mL) compared to controls (22.51 ± 12.54 ng/mL, p = 0.026). Among SCD patients, 78.2% (50) had Vitamin D deficiency ( 30 ng/mL). Vitamin D levels were inversely correlated with age, total bilirubin, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and frequency of VOC, and positively correlated with hemoglobin concentration and socioeconomic status. SCD patients with vitamin D deficiency experienced significantly more VOC episodes per year. Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among SCD patients and is associated with increased disease severity. Routine screening and appropriate supplementation should be considered as part of comprehensive SCD management strategies.
Othmani et al. (Sun,) studied this question.