BLOOD DONORS

Iron losses in female blood donors

• Basal losses 0,7 mg Fe/d
• Menstrual losses 0,5 mg Fe/d
• Loss with blood donation (450 ml/3 months = 225 mg Fe/90 d) 2,5 mg Fe/d

• Total 3,7 mg Fe/d

Note: With a total loss of 3.7 mg iron per day female donors will need iron supplement.

Iron stores in normal men and male donors

Figure A: Distribution of serum ferritin in 718 men. B: Mobilizable iron stores in normal men and in 14 male donors, measured by quantitative blood letting (= phlebotomy). [Ref 36,37]

Note: First-time male donors usually have abundant iron stores and do not need extra iron. As regular donors they must be aware that when their Hb starts to decrease the iron stores are depleting.