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Low-dose oral iron supplementation can reduce the time to hemoglobin recovery after blood donation, according to a study published in JAMA.
Researchers found that a daily dose of ferrous gluconate (37.5 mg of elemental iron) reduced blood donors’ time to 80% hemoglobin recovery, whether the donors were iron-depleted (with ferritin levels of 26 ng/mL or lower) or iron-replete (with ferritin levels higher than 26 ng/mL).
Joseph E. Kiss, MD, of the Institute for Transfusion Medicine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and his colleagues conducted this study at 4 regional blood centers in the US.
The researchers randomized 215 subjects (who had not donated whole blood or red blood cells within 4 months) to receive one tablet of ferrous gluconate daily or no iron for 24 weeks after donating a unit of whole blood (500 mL).
The study’s primary outcomes were time to recovery of 80% of the post-donation decrease in hemoglobin and recovery of baseline ferritin levels.
The researchers found that subjects who received iron supplementation achieved 80% hemoglobin recovery more quickly than subjects who did not receive iron, regardless of ferritin levels.
In the low-ferritin group, the mean time to 80% hemoglobin recovery was 32 days in subjects who received iron and 158 days in those who did not (P<0.001). In the higher-ferritin group, the mean time to 80% hemoglobin recovery was 31 days in subjects who received iron and 78 days in those who did not (P=0.02).
In the low-ferritin group, the median time to recovery of baseline ferritin levels was 21 days in subjects who received iron and more than 168 days in subjects who did not. In the higher-ferritin group, the median time to recovery of baseline ferritin levels was 107 days in subjects who received iron and more than 168 days in those who did not.
The median time to recovery of iron stores was 76 days in all subjects who received iron supplements and more than 168 days in those who did not (P<0.001). Sixty-seven percent of subjects who did not receive iron had failed to recover their iron stores by 168 days.
The researchers said these findings raise important considerations regarding the 8-week minimum waiting period between blood donations that is required in the US and Canada. This is a shorter period than those allowed in many other countries.
The study suggests that hemoglobin recovery differs according to a donor’s pre-donation ferritin level, but, even in iron-replete donors, the mean recovery was only 70% at 8 weeks.
Prolonging the minimum wait time between blood donations would allow for more thorough recovery, the researchers noted, but it could also compromise the blood supply. Furthermore, increasing the waiting period might not be adequate for donors who do not take iron supplements. 
Photo by Charles Haymond
Low-dose oral iron supplementation can reduce the time to hemoglobin recovery after blood donation, according to a study published in JAMA.
Researchers found that a daily dose of ferrous gluconate (37.5 mg of elemental iron) reduced blood donors’ time to 80% hemoglobin recovery, whether the donors were iron-depleted (with ferritin levels of 26 ng/mL or lower) or iron-replete (with ferritin levels higher than 26 ng/mL).
Joseph E. Kiss, MD, of the Institute for Transfusion Medicine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and his colleagues conducted this study at 4 regional blood centers in the US.
The researchers randomized 215 subjects (who had not donated whole blood or red blood cells within 4 months) to receive one tablet of ferrous gluconate daily or no iron for 24 weeks after donating a unit of whole blood (500 mL).
The study’s primary outcomes were time to recovery of 80% of the post-donation decrease in hemoglobin and recovery of baseline ferritin levels.
The researchers found that subjects who received iron supplementation achieved 80% hemoglobin recovery more quickly than subjects who did not receive iron, regardless of ferritin levels.
In the low-ferritin group, the mean time to 80% hemoglobin recovery was 32 days in subjects who received iron and 158 days in those who did not (P<0.001). In the higher-ferritin group, the mean time to 80% hemoglobin recovery was 31 days in subjects who received iron and 78 days in those who did not (P=0.02).
In the low-ferritin group, the median time to recovery of baseline ferritin levels was 21 days in subjects who received iron and more than 168 days in subjects who did not. In the higher-ferritin group, the median time to recovery of baseline ferritin levels was 107 days in subjects who received iron and more than 168 days in those who did not.
The median time to recovery of iron stores was 76 days in all subjects who received iron supplements and more than 168 days in those who did not (P<0.001). Sixty-seven percent of subjects who did not receive iron had failed to recover their iron stores by 168 days.
The researchers said these findings raise important considerations regarding the 8-week minimum waiting period between blood donations that is required in the US and Canada. This is a shorter period than those allowed in many other countries.
The study suggests that hemoglobin recovery differs according to a donor’s pre-donation ferritin level, but, even in iron-replete donors, the mean recovery was only 70% at 8 weeks.
Prolonging the minimum wait time between blood donations would allow for more thorough recovery, the researchers noted, but it could also compromise the blood supply. Furthermore, increasing the waiting period might not be adequate for donors who do not take iron supplements.
Photo by Charles Haymond
Low-dose oral iron supplementation can reduce the time to hemoglobin recovery after blood donation, according to a study published in JAMA.
Researchers found that a daily dose of ferrous gluconate (37.5 mg of elemental iron) reduced blood donors’ time to 80% hemoglobin recovery, whether the donors were iron-depleted (with ferritin levels of 26 ng/mL or lower) or iron-replete (with ferritin levels higher than 26 ng/mL).
Joseph E. Kiss, MD, of the Institute for Transfusion Medicine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and his colleagues conducted this study at 4 regional blood centers in the US.
The researchers randomized 215 subjects (who had not donated whole blood or red blood cells within 4 months) to receive one tablet of ferrous gluconate daily or no iron for 24 weeks after donating a unit of whole blood (500 mL).
The study’s primary outcomes were time to recovery of 80% of the post-donation decrease in hemoglobin and recovery of baseline ferritin levels.
The researchers found that subjects who received iron supplementation achieved 80% hemoglobin recovery more quickly than subjects who did not receive iron, regardless of ferritin levels.
In the low-ferritin group, the mean time to 80% hemoglobin recovery was 32 days in subjects who received iron and 158 days in those who did not (P<0.001). In the higher-ferritin group, the mean time to 80% hemoglobin recovery was 31 days in subjects who received iron and 78 days in those who did not (P=0.02).
In the low-ferritin group, the median time to recovery of baseline ferritin levels was 21 days in subjects who received iron and more than 168 days in subjects who did not. In the higher-ferritin group, the median time to recovery of baseline ferritin levels was 107 days in subjects who received iron and more than 168 days in those who did not.
The median time to recovery of iron stores was 76 days in all subjects who received iron supplements and more than 168 days in those who did not (P<0.001). Sixty-seven percent of subjects who did not receive iron had failed to recover their iron stores by 168 days.
The researchers said these findings raise important considerations regarding the 8-week minimum waiting period between blood donations that is required in the US and Canada. This is a shorter period than those allowed in many other countries.
The study suggests that hemoglobin recovery differs according to a donor’s pre-donation ferritin level, but, even in iron-replete donors, the mean recovery was only 70% at 8 weeks.
Prolonging the minimum wait time between blood donations would allow for more thorough recovery, the researchers noted, but it could also compromise the blood supply. Furthermore, increasing the waiting period might not be adequate for donors who do not take iron supplements.