Iron supplementation for regular blood donors

[Shan Xue]

About 225 mg of iron is lost in each 450 ml of whole blood donation. So regular blood donors may want to take the iron supplements given by the blood bank. One study has shown that the iron absorption for regular blood donors is 14%. So iron supplement of about 225/0.14 = 1,607 mg is required to replenish the iron loss. As the iron tablet provided by the blood bank is ferrour fumarate which contains 33% elemental iron for absorption, the amount of iron tablets to take is 1,607/ (200 X 0.33) = 24.

Reference:

http://www.ayubmed.edu.pk/JAMC/PAST/14-2/AhmedBadar.htm (http://www.ayubmed.edu.pk/JAMC/PAST/14-2/AhmedBadar.htm)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1215830&dopt=Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1215830&dopt=Abstract)

Updated on 11 May 06.

[Shan Xue]

Some info on taking iron supplement:




"INSTRUCTIONS FOR TAKING IRON (FERROUS SULFATE)




If you choose to take an iron supplement or your doctor has recommended one, the following instructions may be helpful.



+ Take with food.


+ Take with juices rich in vitamin C (orange juice, grapefruit, or tomato juice). Iron is more easily absorbed when taken with vitamin C.

+ Since iron can cause constipation, it is advisable that you drink plenty of fluids and eat raw fruits, vegetables, and whole grain products. Check with your doctor if constipation becomes a problem.

+ In addition to constipation, you may experience a mildly upset stomach and a darkening of your stool. If you experience severe side effects, please call your doctor. He/she may reduce the dosage of your iron supplement or advise a reduction in the number of times per day you take the pills.


http://gotblood.ucla.edu/Iron%20Source%20PF.pdf (http://gotblood.ucla.edu/Iron%20Source%20PF.pdf)

"Iron is best absorbed when taken on an empty stomach, with water or fruit juice (adults: full glass or 8 ounces; children: ½ glass or 4 ounces), about 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. However, to lessen the possibility of stomach upset, iron may be taken with food or immediately after meals. "
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202305.html (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202305.html)

[Shan Xue]

i have updated the first post on the computation of number of iron tablets to take. note the computation is an estimate only, as the actual iron tablets required depends on individual hemoglobin level, absorption rate and diet.

there is also a limit on the number of iron tablets taken where one's hemoglobin level will not increase further.

there is also some interesting study on whether daily or weekly iron supplement is more effective. for eg http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/76/6/1392 (http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/76/6/1392)

[lhaa_54]

Hi,
After reading the article, I realised that there's a limit to the amt of haemoglobin level that can be raised. Because once I ate iron tablets for 2mths thinking that it wld raise my levels, but the result was that I manage to reach the minimum of 12.0mg only on the blood donation day.

Eventually I changed tactic and cut down iron tablets intake to once a wk, and just one day before donation, I eat lots of pig liver, then on that donation day, my haemoglobin level shot up to 12.8mg. That really amazed me alot.
Do you have any other suggestions on how to increase haemoglobin level more easily? Although I eat meat quite often, my haemoglobin level seems to be quite borderline. Is there a way to make it above 13.0 or 14.0mg? Is it unhealthy or dangerous to have such a high haemoglobin level?
Thx

[Shan Xue]

After reading the article, I realised that there's a limit to the amt of haemoglobin level that can be raised. Because once I ate iron tablets for 2mths thinking that it wld raise my levels, but the result was that I manage to reach the minimum of 12.0mg only on the blood donation day.

i also had the same experience. i took iron tablets for quite sometime and yet my hemoglobin level hardly increase.


Eventually I changed tactic and cut down iron tablets intake to once a wk, and just one day before donation, I eat lots of pig liver, then on that donation day, my haemoglobin level shot up to 12.8mg. That really amazed me alot.

Pig liver contains hemp iron and B12. we need more than iron to increase hemoglobin level. Folate, B12 are also required. perhaps you can try vitamin supplement containing vitamin C, iron, folic acid and B12. Brand "Nature's essence" available at Guardian. one bottle of 90 vegetarian capsules cost around $13. the label indicates "Iron Plus" and is to promote healthy red blood cells. You can buy a bottle and take one every day for 3 months and see got difference or not.



Do you have any other suggestions on how to increase haemoglobin level more easily? Although I eat meat quite often, my haemoglobin level seems to be quite borderline.

i took the iron supplement from blood bank. hemoglobin never increase at all. there was once where my hemoglobin increase from 12.6 to 14.9 within 5 to 6 weeks. even the nurse at the blood bank is surprised. i took goji berries, molasses and drink vegetable juice everyday. i have returned from Thailand organic farm stay before i went to the donation. their vegetables could have contained some minerals that is not found in the vegetables here. recently i read magnesium is lacking in many soil now and hence lacking in the food here. magnesium is the core mineral of the plant chlorophyll which is very similar to our blood.


Is there a way to make it above 13.0 or 14.0mg?

can try taking these:

1. Spirulina, chlorella, wheatgrass. available in most health food store.

2. vitamin supplement containing vitamin C, iron, folic acid and B12. Brand "Nature's essence" available at Guardian. one bottle of 90 vegetarian capsules cost around $13.

3. Natural liquid iron from plants. eg. Floradix liquid iron supplement. Available at Mustafa and some health food store.

4. molasses. available at health food store.

5. chinese herbs such as goji berries, dang gui.

6. vegetables juices. see sub-forum knowledge sharing for more info

7. calcium and magnesium supplement in the ratio of 2:1. brand "solaray" from GNC.

8. apply Silva Mind control method to increase your body's hemoglobin set point. relax your body and mind by counting slowly backwards from 100 to 1. imagine you are resting at a peaceful place. eg beach. hear the waves of the sea, smell the seawater. then when you are relaxed, say "even though my hemoglobin level is low, i deeply and profoundly love myself." i choose for myself my hemoglobin level fast rise to 14 g/dL (or higher if you wish). my hemoglobin level is 14 g/dL right now." visualise your bone marrow produces lots of new healthy red blood cells.



Is there a way to make it above 13.0 or 14.0mg? Is it unhealthy or dangerous to have such a high haemoglobin level?


On average, normal healthy hemoglobin levels vary. For healthy men, a normal level is between 13 and 18 g/dL; for healthy women, the normal range is between 12 and 16 g/dL. a high level within the normal range is good because that means our body is more capable of absorbing oxygen and making us energetic.

it is however, dangerous to have excessive iron stored in the body.

[zy_leow]

It may be good for guys *not* to replenish the iron, if the "iron hypothesis" is true :)

For male blood donors, the loss of iron from blood donation may actually have cardiac benefits. See http://www.personalmd.com/news/a1997082702.shtml