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Have you ever thought about how to feel better when you have thalassemia major? Are there vitamins, herbs, or supplements that could help you?
The answer is YES!
While these natural options aren’t a replacement for treatments like blood transfusions and chelation therapy, they can help improve your health. In this article, I’ll share some nutritional supplements and natural remedies that might be good for people with thalassemia major, along with some helpful vitamins and herbs.
We’ll also look at three main ways supplements can support your health, so you can choose what’s best for you. Keep reading to find out more!
Thalassemia Major Supplements: Natural Ways to Help
Nutritional supplements and herbal remedies can be great tools to help improve health for people with thalassemia major. Using these natural options along with healthy eating and your doctor’s advice could make a big difference in how you feel.
Luckily, there are many nutritional options that can help people with thalassemia major!
Evidence-Based Natural Remedies and Supplements for Thalassemia Major
As someone living with thalassemia major, I’ve spent a lot of time learning about the best ways to use nutritional supplements. I’ve read a lot of medical research, and I’ve discovered many helpful nutrients and herbs that can improve health and manage symptoms.
The Four Main Problems in Thalassemia Major
When thinking about supplements for thalassemia major, it helps to know the three main challenges we face:
- Managing Iron Overload: People with thalassemia major often get blood transfusions, which can lead to too much iron in the body. This has to be managed by following a proper iron chelation schedule.
- Preventing Future Iron Buildup: We need to reduce how much extra iron we get from the food we eat. This means consuming a low iron diet or consuming foods that reduce iron absorption in the gut with your meals.
- Supporting Hemoglobin and Red Cell Production: Thalassemia major can make it hard for the body to make healthy red blood cells. So, we need to help our bodies produce these cells by eating the right foods and supplements.
- Supporting Organ Health: Too much iron can hurt important organs like the heart and liver. Hence, we need to support our organs with the right nutrients.
All four of these goals can be supported with supplements and natural remedies.
Top Four Ways Supplements Support Health in Thalassemia Major
Helpful supplements and natural remedies for thalassemia major usually work in one or more of these ways:
- Chelate Excess Iron: Some supplements can help remove excess iron from the body, which is really important for people with thalassemia major.
- Block Iron Absorption: Certain foods and substances can help reduce how much iron your body absorbs from your meals.
- Support Hemoglobin and Red Cell Production: There are specific nutrients that can help your body make healthy red blood cells
- Protect from Free Radical Damage: Antioxidants can help shield your body from the damage caused by too much iron.
Using nutritional supplements and healthy eating can be helpful for each of these areas.
Here are the supplements that I recommend for thalassemia major that will help in all the areas mentioned above.
Please note that supplements are not a replacement for a healthy and balanced diet and make sure you speak to your doctor before starting any medicines, supplements, and vitamins. As what suits me, may not suit you.
Don’t forget to check out this article on the 6 best supplements to lower iron levels.
Multivitamin & B Complex
Centrum Silver is a great multivitamin for thal major patients. The most important thing you should look for when buying a multivitamin for a thalassemia major patient is that it should not contain iron or vitamin C.
Thalassemia Major should not take iron supplements at all.
B-Complex is essential for Thalassemia Major. You want to make sure the B Complex you choose includes everything you need.
A good B-complex will help maintain hemoglobin and will also keep you energetic.
Buy Nature’s Bounty Super B-Complex on Amazon.
Individual Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory so it is very important you add this to your daily diet. It is recommended that you take anything from 400 to 600 mg daily.
Buy Puritan’s Pride Vitamin E on Amazon.
Calcium and Vitamin D
Calcium and Vitamin D maybe two of the most important dietary supplements for Thalassemia Major as they help in strengthening the bones and joints.
It is also important to understand that iron chelators also chelate other minerals from the body so it is important to supplement with calcium, zinc, and magnesium.
Other Supplements
Thalassemia major patients need two kinds of supplements:
- Iron chelation supplements to assist with reducing ferritin levels and oxidative stress
- HB improvement supplements to support the hemoglobin and reduce anemia and weakness
Iron Chelation Supplements
IP6
IP6 is a great oral iron chelator and a lot of recent studies are talking about its positives. It’s safe to take and has loads of other benefits as well.
This article has everything you want to know about IP6 and iron chelation.
Buy Jarrow Formulas IP6 on Amazon.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a great supplement for Thalassemia Major patients. It is a potent antioxidant, iron chelator, and anti-inflammatory.
So it can work on multiple fronts by chelating iron, helping with joint pains, and reducing the oxidative stress on the organs.
Read: The Best Turmeric Supplements for Iron Chelation
Buy Nature’s Nutrition Turmeric Curcumin on Amazon.
Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle is also a great supplement for Thalassemia Major patients. Studies have shown it to be a potent iron chelator and antioxidant.
On the other hand, it is great for the liver and you should definitely be taking it if you have elevated liver enzymes.
Buy Puritan’s Pride Milk Thistle on Amazon.
Supplements that may improve hemoglobin in Thalassemia Major
Resveratrol
Studies have shown that Resveratrol helps improve hemoglobin and red cell survival in thalassemia major. It can also reduce bilirubin levels as it reduces hemoglobin breakage.
Buy BioSchwartz Resveratrol on Amazon.
Quercetin
Quercetin is an effective iron chelator and also acts as an antioxidant. Both of these properties of quercetin therefore can have an effect on iron absorption and hence studies have shown that it is quite useful for Thalassemia Major patients.
Buy Jarrow Formulas Quercetin on Amazon.
Black Seed Oil
Studies have shown that black seed oil helps in maintaining HB levels and even improving them in some cases. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that are great for thalassemia major.
It is also a great immunity booster and I think it is one of the most important foods for any thal.
Buy Healths Harmony Black Seed Oil on Amazon.
FAQs: Thalassemia Major Diet
Is milk good for thalassemia major?
Yes, milk is very good for thalassemia major as it is rich in Calcium. Iron chelation can also deplete calcium and other minerals as well which can cause severe deficiencies without even realizing.
Hence it is important to maintain an adequate intake of these through a good diet and supplementation.
Is tea good for thalassemia major?
Yes, tea is great for thalassemia major as it reduces iron absorption from the gut. Tea is also a powerful antioxidant and studies have shown that green tea can help chelate iron and reduce free radical damage.
Is broccoli good for thalassemia major?
All vegetables are good for thalassemia major patients as vegetables like broccoli contain non-heme iron. This kind of iron is not easily absorbed and is mostly excreted by the body.
What vitamins should I take for thalassemia major?
Doctors prescribe Vitamin B complex, Vitamin E, and Vitamin D to thal major patients. Multivitamins (without iron) are also prescribed for many people to fulfill their nutritional needs.
Is Vitamin C good for thalassemia Major?
No, Vitamin C increases iron absorption and should be taken with caution in thalassemia major. Some doctors even recommend taking Vitamin C only with an iron chelator.
Is wheatgrass an iron chelator?
Yes, studies have shown that wheatgrass is a potent oral iron chelator. Click here to read the article I wrote on the benefits of wheatgrass for thalassemia.
