title: Iron status in blood donors.
abstract: The iron status of 592 blood donors was analysed. The reduction in iron stores was related to the frequency rather than the total number of donations. 8% had reduced iron stores but this was not related to blood donation, iron supplementation and sex of the donors. Serum ferritin rather than haemoglobin, serum iron and transferrin saturation is the most reliable indication of iron status of blood donors. Iron supplementation did not confer any benefits.
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D014168:Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron