Evaluation of Serum Zinc Level among Yemeni Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia

ABSTRACT Background: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a genetic disorder characterized by chronic hemolysis, vaso-occlusive crises, and oxidative stress, which contribute to disease severity and complications. Zinc, an essential trace element with antioxidant properties, plays a vital role in reducing oxidative stress and maintaining cellular function. This study aimed to evaluate serum zinc levels and their relationship to hematological parameters in Yemeni patients with sickle cell anemia. Materials and Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional study conducted at the Yemen Society for Thalassemia and Genetic Blood Disorders in Sana’a, Yemen. A total of 104 participants were recruited, including 52 patients with SCA (HbSS) in a steady state and 52 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HbAA). Serum zinc levels and hematological parameters were measured using spectrophotometry and automated hematology analyzers, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26, with a significance threshold of P < 0.05. Results: The mean serum zinc level was significantly lower in SCA patients (73.8 ± 36.6 µg/dL) compared to controls (96.7 ± 38.7 µg/dL) (P = 0.003). Hematological parameters showed that SCA patients had significantly lower hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC) count, and packed cell volume (PCV) (P < 0.001), whereas white blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts were significantly elevated (P < 0.001) compared to controls. There was a weak negative correlation between serum zinc level and hemoglobin (r = -0.122, P = 0.389), and a weak positive correlation between zinc and platelet count (r = 0.075, P = 0.596) as well as zinc and WBC count (r = 0.098, P = 0.489), though none of these correlations were statistically significant. Conclusion: This study revealed significant zinc deficiency among Yemeni patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Although we observed differences in hematological parameters between patients with SCA and controls, zinc levels showed no significant correlation with these parameters. Further clinical research is needed to determine whether zinc supplementation could benefit SCA patients in Yemen.