Iron status and the effect of iron supplementation in Thai male blood donors in northern Thailand.

ABSTRACT

The iron status of voluntary and professional male donor groups was investigated. The study indicated that serum ferritin level was lower significantly in those who donated three times per year compared to the first time donors (p less than 0.05) in voluntary donor group. Similar results were observed among the professional donors. Whereas haemoglobin, haematocrit and transferrin saturation were not altered by donating blood in both groups. It also showed that, in general, the body iron stores of professional donors were lower to those of voluntary donors. Supplementation with iron over a period of three months produced a rise in serum ferritin levels and the percentage prevalence of iron depleted subjects decreased from 23.6% to 6.4%. Haemoglobin, haematocrit and transferrin saturation levels also improved.