Scientific Journal of

  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 There is a loss of iron with each donation and reports have shown iron deficiency in regular blood donors. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency in regular male blood donors and study the related factors.

 Materials and Methods

 In this cross-sectional study, a total of 253 regular volunteer male blood donors during 2007, were sent for blood tests (complete blood count, serum iron, and ferritin) within 20 days either at pre-donation or post-donation periods. Data were analyzed with Pearson Correlation test by using SPSS 15.

 Results

 Thirty two (12.6%) had iron deficiency anemia (hemoglobin less than 12.5 g/dl), 67 (26.6%) had low serum iron (less than 50 micg/dl), 135 (54.9%) had low ferritin levels (less than 17 ng/ml) and 13 (5.1%) had hematocrit lower than 38%. The number of donations per year had a significant negative correlation with hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron, and ferritin levels (p< 0.001, p< 0.005, p< 0.009, p< 0.001, respectively) the total number of donations also showed a significant negative correlation with hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron, and ferritin levels (p< 0.001, p< 0.004, p<0.001 and p< 0.023, respectively). MCV also lowered as the number of donations per year increased (p< 0.01).

 Conclusions

 Iron stores in regular male blood donors were low which showed a strong correlation with the number of donations per year and total number of donations. Since recruiting regular blood donors is essential, preventing iron deficiency by early diagnosis will be beneficial for unreturned rate of regular donors to decrease.