title: The effect of oral iron supplementation on erythropoiesis in autologous blood donors.
abstract: The effect of oral iron supplementation on erythropoiesis was studied prospectively in 34 autologous blood donors. The subjects, all of whom were to undergo total hip surgery, had normal iron status at the start of the study. During the preoperative period, in which 4 units of blood were collected, 17 patients received oral iron supplementation with 287 mg of ferrous sulfate (105 mg of elemental iron/day), while 17 patients did not use any iron supplementation. Oral iron supplementation during the 4-week preoperative period lessened the decrease in ferritin levels after two phlebotomies. Neither the decrease in hemoglobin nor the increase in erythropoietin levels was influenced by iron supplementation. In both iron-supplemented and control patients, serum erythropoietin levels returned to initial values within a few days after surgery. In autologous blood donors with a normal iron status, the use of supplemental iron does not affect erythropoiesis and is insufficient to maintain iron stores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital De Lichtenberg, Amersfoort, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Biesma
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kraaijenhagen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poortman
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van de Wiel
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous; D004920:Erythropoiesis; D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; C020748:ferrous sulfate