Status of hepcidin, superoxide dismutase, zinc, and copper in β-thalassemia : a review

Abstract EN

Thalassemia is a well-known erythrocyte disorder characterized by low or defected hemoglobin synthesis.

P-Thalassemia is common in Jordan and classified into three types according to its severity; minor, intermedia and major.

Blood transfusion is required for the patients with intermedia and major types to sustain life.

Iron overload is the hallmark of P-thalassemia that results from blood transfusion, ineffective erythropoiesis and hepcidin deficiency.

Hepcidin deficiency is documented in P-thalassemia which increases dietary iron absorption and iron release from its stores.

This results in increasing the level of the oxidative stress and the need for the superoxide dismutase enzyme (SOD).

Increased iron absorption competes with the absorption of the two essential components of the SOD, which are zinc and copper leading to their deficiencies.

Zinc and copper dietary intakes also were noticed to be insufficient in P-thalassemia patients.

Therefore, this review aims to summarize the status of hepcidin, SOD, zinc, and copper levels as well as to shed light on the need for investigating the relationships among them.