Sickle Cell Disease: Current Drug Treatments and Functional Foods with Therapeutic Potential

TL;DR

This paper reviews current drug treatments and explores functional foods as a potential complementary approach for managing sickle cell disease.

Contribution

The paper introduces the therapeutic potential of functional foods and bioactive compounds as a complementary strategy for sickle cell disease.

Findings

Randomized trials show promise for certain drugs in managing sickle cell disease.

Functional foods enriched with bioactive compounds may offer a cost-effective and accessible treatment approach.

Further research is needed to confirm the clinical efficacy and optimal dosages of these compounds.

Abstract

Sickle cell anemia (SCA), the most common form of sickle cell disease (SCD), is a genetic blood disorder. Red blood cells break down prematurely, causing anemia and often blocking blood vessels, leading to chronic pain, organ damage, and increased infection risk. SCD arises from a single-nucleotide mutation in the β-globin gene, substituting glutamic acid with valine in the β-globin chain. This review examines treatments evaluated through randomized controlled trials for managing SCD, analyzes the potential of functional foods (dietary components with health benefits) as a complementary strategy, and explores the use of bioactive compounds as functional food ingredients. While randomized trials show promise for certain drugs, functional foods enriched with bioactive compounds also hold therapeutic potential. Further research is needed to confirm clinical efficacy, optimal dosages, and specific effects of these compounds on SCD, potentially offering a cost-effective and accessible approach to managing the disease.

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