Iron Supplements and Iron Status in Frequent Blood Donors

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency anemia is a public health problem worldwide, which can cause by nutrition deficiency, blood loss, and regular blood donation. This study aims to evaluate the hematological parameters and serum ferritin of Thai male blood donors.Methods: Eighty-nine male blood donors were divided into three groups according to their frequency of blood donation: a group of 30 cases for first time donors (group I), a group of 30 cases for donors who have donated 3-6 times (group II), and a group of 29 cases for donors who have donated more than six times (group III). Blood was collected for hematological parameters and for serum ferritin testing by immunological assay.Results: The results showed that the level of serum ferritin tended to decrease with the frequency of blood donation. The level of serum ferritin in blood donors who donated more than six times but did not take a full dose of iron supplements (43.2+25.0µg/L), statisticasignificant decreased when compared with the first donated group (75.4+40.2µg/L) (p=0.03). However, all hematological parameters were not significantly different among these 3 groups. Prevalence of iron depletion without anemia in group II and III were 6% and 3.4%, respectively. Only one donor in group III was iron deficiency anemia. Conclusion:This study shows that blood donation may lead to iron depletion and iron deficiency anemia, especially in more frequent donors. Iron supplements or dietary iron is required after a donation for iron level maintenance and iron deficiency prevention.