Korean J Blood Transfus.  2021 Aug;32(2):102-111. 10.17945/kjbt.2021.32.2.1 0 2.

Effects of Iron Dietary Supplements to Prevent Iron Deficiency in Repeat Blood Donors

• Lee JY
• Lee JS
• Ko DY
• Seon JY
• Yang JH
• Kim JN
• Youn MA

• KMID: 2519478
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17945/kjbt.2021.32.2.1 0 2

Abstract

Background
The purpose of this study was to prepare data for the prevention and management of iron deficiency by analyzing the effects of taking iron supplements provided by blood centers for repeat blood donors.
Methods
The high-risk groups with a potential iron deficiency were defined as three or more whole blood donations within the previous year and were provided with iron supplements for three months. Their hemoglobin and ferritin levels were checked up once a month for six months. The effectiveness of the iron supplements was evaluated by analyzing the changes in the initial and monthly hemoglobin and ferritin results.
Results
At the time of recruitments, an average 50.4% (40.8% of men and 65.3% of women, respectively) of participants had ferritin levels of less than 15 ng/mL, the World Health Organization iron deficiency standard, but after three months iron supplementation, the results decreased to 10.9% (9.0% of men and 13.8% of women). The ferritin levels increased significantly after taking iron supplements for three months and showed significant increases in both men and women, particularly after two months (P＜0.05).
Conclusion
The dietary iron supplements containing low-dose iron were effective in preventing iron deficiency in repeat blood donors by increasing the ferritin levels.

Keyword

Iron deficiency; Iron supplements; Repeat blood donors; Ferritin