Dietary Patterns and Their Association with Micronutrient Status Among Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia in Ondo State, South West Nigeria

Children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) have elevated nutritional demands due to chronic haemolysis, increased metabolic rate, and frequent infections, yet dietary patterns and micronutrient status in this population from South West Nigeria remain incompletely characterised. This cross-sectional analytical study examines dietary patterns and their association with micronutrient status among children aged 5 to 15 years with confirmed SCA attending the paediatric haematology clinic at Federal Medical Centre Owo, Ondo State, South West Nigeria. A total of 165 children were recruited and compared with 165 age-and-sex-matched non-SCA controls. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour dietary recall. Serum zinc, folate, ferritin, and vitamin B12 levels were measured by laboratory analysis. Children with SCA had significantly lower dietary diversity scores compared to controls (3.8 versus 5.1, p less than 0.001). Zinc deficiency was present in 52.7% of SCA children versus 28.5% of controls. Folate deficiency was found in 39.4% of SCA children. A predominantly starchy dietary pattern was identified in 68.5% of SCA children, inversely associated with micronutrient adequacy. Hydroxyurea use was associated with lower folate levels, suggesting increased supplementation needs. The study underscores the need for routine micronutrient assessment in SCA clinics, dietary counselling incorporating animal-source foods, and systematic micronutrient supplementation for at-risk children. Keywords: sickle cell anaemia, dietary patterns, micronutrient, Ondo State, South West Nigeria.