The effect of blood donation frequency on iron status.
BACKGROUND
The effects of blood donation on iron status in donors without iron supplementation were studied. Analysing interactions between donations and iron status markers may predict these effects.


METHODS
Haemoglobin (Hb) and serum ferritin were analysed in 893 donors over 1 year. Serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) was measured at the first and last donation.


RESULTS
Prolonged intervals prevented decrease in Hb in women and in ferritin for both genders. In women, a high TfR-F index (sTfR/log ferritin) predicted fall in Hb.


CONCLUSIONS
Adjusting the donation intervals is a way to prevent iron deficiency in blood donors.
Røsvik
A S
AS
Institute of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. ar@hials.no
Ulvik
R J
RJ
Wentzel-Larsen
T
T
Hervig
T
T
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood; D012737:Sex Factors
D006454:Hemoglobins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron