[Recovered state of iron in female blood donors--after taking an iron supplement]

An iron supplement was given to female blood donors to prevent iron deficiency after blood donation. The levels of items related to red blood cells and serum ferritin (S-Fer) among 17 iron-takers and 31 non-iron-takers were analyzed continuously. In most of the non-iron-takers, the S-Fer levels did not recover within four weeks after the donation of 200ml or 400ml of blood. In the approximately half of the donors, hemoglobin (Hb) levels did not recover either. However, in 59% of those taking iron supplements three times the amount of iron lost by donation, the levels of Hb and S-Fer recovered within two weeks. In the remaining 41%, the Hb levels recovered within four weeks by taking the iron supplement. Four weeks after blood donation, the incidence of iron deficiency anemia among the non-iron-takers increased from 13% to 23% and the incidence of latent iron deficiency among the non-iron-takers increased from 32% to 42%. However, the incidence of iron deficiency anemia among the iron-takers remained 0% and the incidence of latent iron deficiency among the iron-takers decreased from 12% to 6%.