Blood disorders
From The Nutritional Health Bible by Linda Lazarides (1997). This free database is provided for interest only. Linda's later writings refer to more up-to-date research.
Some causative factors- Vitamin B6 deficiency
- Vitamin C deficiency
- Vitamin E deficiency
Plasma levels of vitamin B6 were found to be very low in 16 sickle cell anaemia sufferers compared with normals. Supplementation with 100 mg vitamin B6 per day resulted in an increase in number of red cells and haemoglobin. Natta CL et al: Apparent vitamin B6 deficiency in sickle cell anaemia. Am J Clin Nutr 40(2):235-9, 1984.
Promising nutritional research
Sickled red blood cells are more susceptible to peroxidation than normal red cells. Vitamin E deficiency promotes red cell susceptibility to peroxidation and could lead to cell abnormalities, capillary obstruction and tissue damage. The investigators propose that sickle-cell patients would benefit from vitamin E supplementation. Chiu D et al: Peroxidation, vitamin E and sickle-cell anaemia. Ann NY Acad Sci 393:323-35, 1982.
Three years after beginning a wholefood diet free of added salt, with homoeopathic remedies, multivitamins, calcium pantothenate and vitamin E, a 40-year old woman with von Willebrand's disease was free of all symptoms and abnormal bleeding. Hayman-Budden G, Nutritional Therapy Today 2(2):4, 1992. Society for the Promotion of Nutritional Therapy, UK.
11 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura were treated with 2 grams of vitamin C daily. 7 patients responded well and suffered no relapses. Brox AG et al: Treatment of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura with ascorbate. Brit J Haematol 70:341-44, 1988.