Iron Balance in Regular Blood Donors

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Transfusion Medicine
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Blood donation is associated with a decrease in iron stores among donors.
• Maintaining donor health is essential for a sustainable blood supply.
• Hemoglobin and ferritin levels are key indicators of iron status.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of donation frequency on iron stores in male blood donors.
• To evaluate the adequacy of hemoglobin testing alone for donor screening.
• To recommend improved screening and management strategies for blood donors.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 235 healthy male blood donors.
• Donors categorized into control (no donation), two donations/year, and three donations/year groups.
• Comparison of hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels across groups.

Main Results:

• Significantly lower hemoglobin levels in donors compared to controls (14.7 vs. 15.9 g/dL).
• Markedly reduced serum ferritin levels with increased donation frequency (108, 56, 26 μg/L for groups I, II, III).
• High prevalence of negative iron balance (58%) and iron deficiency anemia (20%) in frequent donors (Group III).

Conclusions:

• Hemoglobin levels alone are insufficient for assessing donor iron status.
• Serum ferritin testing is recommended for regular blood donors.
• Iron supplementation and enhanced monitoring are advised for donors with frequent donations.