Hi folks,
My apologies if I've missed pertinent info on this question, but I'm a B with thallasemia minor, and I'm wondering if this could affect my beneficial/avoid lists.

My dad is Sicilian. I, along with my sibs, inherited the B blood and the thallasemia from him. My mom is Canadian, mixed British and French heritage, a smidge of Amerindian (M'iqmaq) : type O.  

I noticed, with some interest, that the so-called thallasemia belt, which stretches across the Mediterranean and into China, affects a lot of B populations. And I noted with interest that the malarial mosquito likes B blood ...

Thallasemia evolved as a defense against malaria: the small red blood cells discourage the malaria from taking hold. It would be interesting to know at what stage in history this trait developed. In its full form, it is a devastating disease with high infant mortality.

Any other type B thallasemia folks out there? I've been on to my condition, which is very mild, since high school. At worst it makes me pale, and my hemoglobin is at best 11 ... on a scale that goes to 18? I forget. The doctor did warn me early on not to take iron supplements.

Hi Anna Maria,
I have not heard of the condition, but I just stopped in to say Hi to you and I'm glad you're posting here on the forum.  There is a lot of information shared around, as well as a lot of very informed people.  Your chances are good of getting some ideas that will help you in one way or another.

Would you mind talking a little more about the symptoms and health problems associated with Thallasemia?

Oh, and no matter what we are dealing with, whatever kind of condition, stopping avoids is always the best first step, and increasing the beneficial intake is the best second step;  Just because these actions give our bodies our best chance of being strong, resilient and capable of responding appropriately to the situation.

Wow! That was fast ...
I think I spelled thalassemia wrong.
I don't know a whole lot more about it than to say that it's a mild form of anemia. But one in which iron supplementation would be a danger. The red blood cells are the size of a newborn's, and not a normal round shape. It's like blood that hasn't grown up!
But people with the minor trait have an advantage at surviving malaria.  
My uncle, a type A, has it also.
He told me my grandmother got him seen at an early age, and was advised to feed him goat's milk! So they bought a goat for this purpose. He had a fresh bowl of goat's milk every morning and cried when they had to sell the goat!!

Here is some information on the thallasemia on this website.

Here is a response on the old message board by Dr. D. You might want to read the whole thread.

Quoted from By Dr. D Re: Thallasemia Minor/Mediterranian Anemia
http://www.dadamo.com/forum/convert1/config.pl?read=909

I've seen these anemias in most A and AB types. Avoidance of the harmful lectins in the foods that react with either A or B (in the case of AB) should have the effect of easing the tensions on the red cell membranes. I would also recommend a good anti-oxidant formula, preferably one containg pycnogenol.

The Individualist: The thalassemias

You beat me to it Don, I was just looking it up on the individulaist.  
If you type the word in the search section, you come up with even more references.

I also googled it and saw an interesting site http://www.thalassemia.org/

Maybe when I get the time, I’ll add to the Individualist info since it seems so brief.

If you have any other good sites for me to research, I’’ll look into it.

Arlene

Thanks ...
yes, I came across this one whilst trying to send a question on the "Ask Dr. D'Adamo" form ... and quickly learned to sum up ...

Just a forum note.   Sometimes when we’re all replying at the same time, it pays to go back & check the thread to see if while you’re typing, someone else typed too.  

Quoted Text

Thalassemia major
Beta thalassemia is a genetic disorder that results in abnormalities of the globin (protein) portion of hemoglobin. An individual who is homozygous for the beta thalassemia gene (has two copies of the beta thalassemia gene) is said to have thalassemia major. Infants born with thalassemia major develop severe anemia a few months after birth, accompanied by pallor, fatigue, poor growth, and frequent infections. Blood transfusions are used to treat thalassemia major but
cannot cure it.

Gracias, Lola.
You must work with a lot of thalassemic clients in your southern latitude.