[Iron reserves in blood donors. Should we prescribe systematic iron supplementation?]

Abstract

1. Iron status has been assessed in 171 blood donors and 58 controls. 2. In men, ferritinemia was lower in blood donors, as compared to controls, but hemoglobin and erythrocytes values are found normal. 3. In women, both M.C.V. and ferritinemia were lower in donors. Ferritinemia could reach values below the threshold of iron deficiency. Microcytosis occurred 7 times. It appeared to be related either to the association of hypermenorrhea with blood donation, or to a number of 4 blood donations a year. 4. Iron supplementation was randomized. The comparison of the two groups of donors with and without iron supplementation showed that supplementation had no effect on male blood donors, but improved both ferritinemia and M.C.V. values in females. 5. However, systematic iron supplementation does not seem to be appropriate in France, as long as one excludes hypermenorrheic women, and if the periodicity of blood donation does not exceed three times a year for females.