title: An 8-week course of 45 mg of carbonyl iron daily reduces iron deficiency in female whole blood donors aged 18 to 45 years: results of a prospective randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blood donation is known to contribute to iron deficiency in regular blood donors. This study investigated the safety and efficacy of postdonation iron replacement to mitigate iron deficiency in blood donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 282 female whole blood donors aged 18 to 45 were prospectively randomized in a double-blinded placebo controlled trial to receive an 8-week postdonation course of carbonyl iron (45 mg daily) or placebo. The primary endpoint was prevalence of iron deficiency (ferritin < 15 ng/mL) at 12 weeks postdonation. Secondary endpoints were eligibility to donate based on capillary hemoglobin (Hb) and incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) complaints.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ferritin levels at Week 12 were significantly higher in donors receiving carbonyl iron (17.0 ± 10.9 ng/mL) compared with those receiving placebo (10.6 ± 8.4 ng/mL; p < 0.001). The proportion of iron-deficient donors was significantly lower in the carbonyl iron group (51.9%) compared to the placebo (80.5%; p < 0.001). The mean Hb level in the carbonyl iron group (134.6 ± 8.7 g/L) was significantly higher than in the placebo arm (130.0 ± 9.9 g/L; p < 0.001), significantly improving eligibility to donate at Week 12. Significantly more donors receiving carbonyl iron had at least one GI side effect (p < 0.001). Importantly, 86.7% of donors receiving carbonyl iron indicated that they would take iron on an ongoing basis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An 8-week postdonation course of 45 mg of carbonyl iron significantly reduced iron deficiency and was well tolerated in female whole blood donors. Postdonation iron replacement may have a role in a broader strategy to optimize donor iron status.
authors.affiliation: the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Denese C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Speedy
authors.forename: Kathryn L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brama
authors.forename: Hugh R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Capper
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mondy
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Keller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004309:Double Bind Interaction; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D058085:Iron Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058085:Iron Compounds; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron