Abstract
Previous work has shown that thalassemic children have increased phosphaturia and that phosphorus administration restore phosphorus balance and results in improvement of their bone lesions. In addition, the absorption of iron is known to be decreased by the presence of oxalate, phosphate and phytate in the food. In order to study the effect of phosphorus administration on iron balance in thalassemia, twenty iron and phosphorus balance studies were performed in 14 thalassemic children, 8 boys and 6 girls,aged 13 months to 16 years. Ten studies were performed while the patients were on oral phosphate administration (1.5-2.0g / day) and ten while they were not. Phosphorus intake was found have a negative correlation with net iron absorption (r= 0.462 p < 0.05) and iron balance (r=0.455, p < 0.05). In addition a linear correlation was found between fecal phosphorus and fecal iron (r=0.442, p < 0.05) and between net phosphorus absorption and urinary iron excretion (r=0.487, p < 0.05). In conclusion it seems that in thalassemia, phosphorus administration,in addition to the beneficial effects on the bone lesions has an effect on iron balance. Oral phosphorus not only prevents iron absorption but it increases to a certain degree iron elimination in the stools. The effect of net phosphorus absorption on iron elimination in the urine although statistically significant does not play an important role in the iron balance.
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Pantelakis, S., Karaklis, A., Vretos, C. et al. 52 EFFECTS OF PHOSPHORUS ADMINISTRATION ON IRON BALANCE IN OMOZYGOUS β-THALASSEMIA. Pediatr Res 13, 956 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197908000-00068
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197908000-00068
