This study was limited with respect to the size of the cohort
of nontransfused subjects. The majority of subjects (90%)
were chronically transfused, therefore, the generalizability of
these results to nontransfused subjects with thalassemia is
limited. In addition, because of the current study design, circulating
levels of many nutrients were not measured and
therefore the relationship between dietary intake and other
comorbidities in thalassemia could not be explored further.
This was beyond the scope of this study; however, it is the
obvious next step in understanding the full effects of nutritional
status on overall health in subjects with thalassemia.