Thalassemia helps control iron levels by reducing anemic fatigue and relieving muscle pain, as well as strengthening bones and teeth and osteoporosis.
The diet depends on the type of thalassemia that occurs, as no special foods are needed for minor forms of the disease, which are less severe and generally cause no symptoms. It is better to understand here what changes in each type of thalassemia.
- In intermediate thalassemia.
- In which the patient has moderate anemia and may not need to receive a blood transfusion.
- It is necessary to increase levels of calcium.
- Vitamin D and folic acid to improve quality of life.
Calcium is important for strengthening bones, which can weaken during thalassemia due to increased blood production, to reduce the anemia caused by the disease.
This includes increasing consumption of calcium-rich foods such as milk and dairy products, vegetables such as spinach, kale and broccoli, tofu, almonds and nuts. View all calcium-rich foods.
Folic acid is important to stimulate the body to increase blood production, helping to reduce anemia caused by the disease.
Foods rich in folic acid are mainly lentils, beans and dark green vegetables such as kale, spinach, broccoli and parsley. See more food here.
Vitamin D is important for increasing calcium fixation in bones and also helps prevent osteoporosis; is found in foods such as fish, eggs, milk and dairy products.
However, most of the vitamin D present in the body is produced by skin exposure to the sun, so it is important to sunbathe at least 3 times a week for about 20 minutes. See more tips on: How to effectively sunbathe vitamin D.
Major thalassemia is the most severe form of the disease, in which the patient should receive frequent blood transfusions. Due to transfusions, an iron buildup occurs in the body that can be harmful to organs such as the heart and liver.
For example, foods rich in excess iron such as liver, red meat, seafood, egg yolks, and beans should be avoided. See the list of other foods here.
In addition, the consumption of foods that make it difficult to absorb iron into the gut, such as milk and dairy products and black tea, should also be increased. At a lunch or dinner where the main course is red meats, for example, dessert can be yogurt, which is rich in calcium and helps make it difficult to absorb iron from meat.
See how treatment with medications and blood transfusions is performed for each type of thalassemia.