Compositions and methods for diagnosis and treatment of anemia

A method of treatment of an anemic condition, wherein the anemic condition is selected from the group consisting of hemolytic anemia, thalassemia, hereditary spherocytosis, hereditary elliptocytosis, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, pyruvate kinase deficiency, immune hemolytic anemia, alloimmune hemolytic anemia, drug-induced hemolytic anemia, mechanical hemolytic anemia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, anemia of chronic disease, anemia, aplastic anemia, congenital hypoplastic anemia, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, Fanconi anemia, iron deficiency anemia, anemia of abnormal RBC size, megaloblastic anemia, microcytic anemia, vitamin deficiency anemia, pernicious anemia, anemia of RBC mutation, sideroblastic anemia, and sickle cell anemia, comprising:

• administering to a patient in need thereof, a composition comprising at least ten percent of one or more odd-chain saturated fatty acids, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the one or more odd-chain saturated fatty acids are selected from the group consisting of C15:0, C17:0, and combinations thereof.