Dear R.T Kamorudeen ,

The study you refer to distinguishes different phenotypes of Haemoglobin. So they define:

-HbAA (haemoglobin A for normal subjects as controls)

-Two groups with ‘abnormal’ Hb called HbAC (haemoglobin C trait) and HbAS (haemoglobin S trait)

-Two groups suffering from the sickle cell disease called HbSC (haemoglobin SC for sickle cell disease) and HbSS (haemoglobin SS for sickle cell disease).

According to Table 1 the HbSC and HbSS groups do have lower iron content. The HbAC and HbAS show no or hardly any difference compared to the control group.

There are different causes for abnormalities in hemoglobine, see the following excellent review for a classification:

http://perspectivesinmedicine.cshlp.org/content/3/2/a011684.full.pdf+html

So as far as I understand this paper these author have not found results that contradicts with the view that sickle cell disease correspondence with low iron content. The findings of the groups with abnormal Hb (phenotypes) seems to indicate that they differ in other terms than iron content.

PS. The paper you refere to mentioned that there are contra dictionary results found related to for example iron content. Presumably one of the reasons is that this has to do with choice of classification of groups (people suffering from sickle cell disease, sickle cell trait, different types of Hb abnormalities etc.).

Rob Keller Excellent Sir.