The effect of vitamin D therapy on hematological indices in children with vitamin D deficiency.

We investigated the effect of vitamin D on hematological indices, blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in children with vitamin D deficiency before and after treatment. Vitamin D deficiency does not have a significant effect on red blood cell count and indices, total and differential white blood cell count, or on BP and HR. A mega-dose vitamin D therapy did not have a significant effect on all these parameters in children.

Growth and factors affecting it in thalassemia major.

In our thalassemic (T) cohort, 45% of them had height standard deviation score (HtSDS) less than -2 and 56% of them had growth velocity standard deviation score (GVSDS) less than -1. Their mid-arm circumference and triceps skin-fold thickness were decreased versus normal controls. Their circulating insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations were significantly lower than normal children.