evaluation of calcium and vitamin d levels in serum in a sample of thalassemia patients from baghdad

Background: beta thalassemia patients require lifelong blood transfusions that can lead to iron accumulation in tissues and a decreased vitamin d synthesis. this study determined vitamin d and calcium levels in thalassemia patients in baghdad, iraq.methods: in 2023, 100 adult patients of 15-25 years of both sexes who were regularly diagnosed with thalassemia in center for genetic hematology at ibn al-baladi hospital in rusafa- baghdad, iraq were enrolled. serum 25-oh-vitamin d and calcium were levels were assessed. totally, 50 blood samples were collected from thalassemia patients together with 50 blood samples from healthy people as control for comparison.results: vitamin d level was low in thalassemia patients. there was a significant difference in the decrease in vitamin d level between men and women (p=0.008). females had a significantly higher calcium deficiency than males. the serum calcium level was low, and no significant difference was noticed between sexes (p=0.28). when comparing thalassemia rate, a significant difference was visible in vitamin d level (p=0.002). for calcium level, the difference between two groups was significant (p=0.01).conclusion: a significant difference was observed for vitamin d and calcium deficiency among thalassemia patients of both sexes when compared to healthy people.