Introduction: Thalassemia is a hematopoetic disorder which leads to rapid haemolysis and anaemia. As per recommended treatment, regular blood transfusions lead to iron accumulation in different vital organs followed by oxidative damage and metabolic derangement. Although, there is evidence of oxidative stress induced dyslipidemia, vitamin D deficiency along with altered calcium homeostasis in thalassemic albeit without any significant correlation between them. Aims and objectives: In the present study we focussed on these incongruent observations and hypothesized that apart from the oxidative stress due to iron overload, lipid dysfunction acts also as one of the major cause of significant vitamin D deficiency in pubertal and post-pubertal (above 14 yrs) age group of thalassemic patients. Material and methods: 50 diagnosed cases of beta-thalassemia and 50 age and sex matched control subjects selected. Serum ferritin, vitamin D, total cholesterol, LDL was estimated by standard laboratory procedure. Result and analysis: Vitamin D, total cholesterol, LDL were found significantly lower (P value <0.001) in cases than controls. Multiple linear regression analysis showed vitamin D level was significantly decreased only with serum LDL (regression coefficient β =0.505, P =0.049). Conclusion: Vitamin D synthesis is directly depend on cholesterol level inside the tissues, decreased levels of cholesterol within tissues in thalassemic subjects further complicate the cholesterol mediated vitamin D synthesis. Synthesis of 7- dehydrocholesterol, precursor molecule of vitamin D is also reduced due to oxidative damage leading to insufficient vitamin D level in thalassemic subject.
