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[Iron supplement to blood donors. II. Effect of continuous iron supply]
Insights
Daily iron loss from blood donation necessitates supplementation. While 100 mg daily iron may not fully replenish stores, it helps balance iron levels by stimulating absorption, preventing further depletion.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Nutritional Science
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Blood donation leads to significant daily iron loss (3.5 mg).
- Maintaining iron balance is crucial for overall health, especially in individuals with regular blood loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of different daily iron supplementation doses (20 mg and 100 mg ferrous carbonate) in conscripts with regular blood donations.
- To assess the impact of iron supplementation on iron stores and absorption.
Main Methods:
- Seventeen conscripts donated blood every two months, losing an average of 3.5 mg iron daily.
- Participants received either 20 mg or 100 mg of iron daily.
- Packed red cell volume, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, and bone marrow iron were measured.
- A diagnostic iron absorption test was performed.
Main Results:
- Iron supplementation stabilized bone marrow iron at reduced levels, with higher levels observed with 100 mg compared to 20 mg.
- Both supplementation groups showed lower iron stores than pre-donation levels.
- Iron absorption tests indicated a negative iron balance, though not progressively worsening.
- A daily loss of 3.5 mg iron is not fully compensated by 100 mg iron supplementation.
Conclusions:
- Daily iron supplementation is necessary to counteract iron loss from blood donation.
- 100 mg of daily iron is insufficient to maintain previous iron stores but prevents progressive depletion.
- Reduced iron stores appear to stimulate iron absorption, establishing a new balance.
Abstract:
Seventeen conscripts gave blood every second month, the amount representing an average iron loss of 3.5 mg daily. Seven of them were given 20 mg and ten 100 mg iron as ferrous carbonate once daily throughout the study. Before the first and after the fourth and sixth blood donations they were examined with regard to packed red cell volume, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity and stainable bone marrow iron, and a diagnostic iron absoprtion test was performed. Ten conscripts receiving no iron and giving no blood but comparable to those in the test groups with regard to age, exercise and diet served as controls. The stainable bone marrow iron was found to become stabilized at a level with reduced but still perceptible amounts when 20 mg iron was given, and at a level with somewhat greater amounts when the daily dose was 100 mg. Both levels were lower than before blood donation in most subjects, and the negative iron balance was also reflected in the diagnostic iron absorption test. When a healthy person loses 3.5 mg iron daily, supplementation with a 100 mg tablet per day is therefore insufficient to maintain the iron stores at their previous level. The decrease in storage iron is not progressive, however. When the storage iron is reduced, iron absorption seems to be stimulated sufficiently to establish a balance at a reduced storage iron level.