Depletion of iron stores is frequently observed in regular blood donors, but effects of iron
deficiency on general health is not well studied. Recent studies in women suffering of
fatigue suggest iron deficiency without concomitant anemia as a common cause of these
complaints. Provided the same is true in healthy subjects, substitution of intravenous iron
might result in an improvement of general well being in iron depleted blood donors.
Healthy regular blood donors will be screened for low storage iron. Qualifying subjects will
be invited to participate in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial with substitution of
intravenous iron or placebo (saline solution). Differences in subjectively felt fatigue and
other factors of general health and well being will be assessed. If an improvement of such
factors can be shown after iron replacement, relevant concerns about artificially lowering
iron stores by repeated phlebotomies will arise and changes of monitoring and substitution
policies in blood banking might have to be discussed.
Phase:
Phase 4
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University Hospital Inselspital, Berne
Collaborators:
Blutspendedienst SRK Bern AG, 3008 Bern, Switzerland Humanitäre Stiftung des Schweizerischen Roten Kreuzes, 3011 Bern, Switzerland University of Bern