Hemoglobin values in aged men

To determine whether the level of hemoglobin declines with age a group of 92 aged males averaging 81 years was carefully examined to exclude disease likely to cause anemia or polycythemia. Arterial blood was drawn from each patient before he was allowed out of bed in the morning to avoid the hemoconcentrating effect of the erect posture. The mean hemoglobin concentration was 12.9 +/- 1.5 g.% and the values were distributed normally. There was a decline of hemoglobin concentration with age which is probably nonlinear since it becomes more marked in the very old. The decline is thought to be part of the aging process and not a manifestation of disease.