Iron Supplementation for Blood Donors Based on Ferritin Levels

New research has strengthened the importance of monitoring iron levels in regular blood donors, as a single whole blood donation can reduce iron stores by nearly 250 mg. This drop may increase the likelihood of low ferritin and reduced hemoglobin, even in donors who pass routine screening. Although hemoglobin checks are widely used, studies now show that evaluating ferritin and adjusting donation frequency can better protect donor health.

In a recent study from the Netherlands, more than 800 repeat donors with low ferritin (15–30 µg/L) were given either a placebo or 30 mg or 60 mg of ferrous bisglycinate, taken daily or on alternate days. After 56 days, the group receiving 60 mg daily showed the most improvement, with iron deficiency dropping to just 1%. Lower doses and placebo groups showed significantly higher deficiency rates. Notably, digestive discomfort remained low for all participants.

These results highlight that iron supplementation particularly in well-regulated doses can help maintain healthy iron levels in routine donors. Researchers also note that more work is required to understand how these findings apply to new donors and how supplementation influences long-term donor participation.