Iron supplementation limits the deleterious effects of repeated blood donation on endurance sport performance but not on iron status.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the effect of iron supplementation on iron status and physiological performance after repeated blood donation in iron-replete individuals.
Results Summary
Iron supplementation (20 mg and 80 mg daily) limited the negative effects of repeated blood donation on endurance performance (maximal power output and peak oxygen consumption) but did not prevent declines in iron status. The highest dose (80 mg) also mitigated effects on functional iron and iron metabolism regulation.
Population
Moderately trained, iron-replete young men
Effective Dosage
20 mg or 80 mg daily
Duration
28 days after each donation (three donations total, 3 months apart)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
repeated blood donation | decrease | markers of iron storage | moderately trained and iron-replete subjects | - | Negative effects were found | #1 |
repeated blood donation | decrease | markers of functional iron and/or iron metabolism regulation | moderately trained and iron-replete subjects | - | Negative effects were found | #2 |
repeated blood donation | decrease | physiological markers | moderately trained and iron-replete subjects | - | Negative effects were found | #3 |
iron supplementation | no change | iron storage | moderately trained and iron-replete subjects | - | did not affect | #4 |
iron supplementation at the highest dose of 80 mg | decrease | functional iron and/or iron metabolism regulation | moderately trained and iron-replete subjects | 80 mg | did limit the effect | #5 |
iron supplementation at both 20 and 80 mg | decrease | maximal power output | moderately trained and iron-replete subjects | 20 and 80 mg | limited the negative effects | #6 |
iron supplementation at both 20 and 80 mg | decrease | peak oxygen consumption | moderately trained and iron-replete subjects | 20 and 80 mg | limited the negative effects | #7 |
iron supplementation | decrease | endurance sport performance | iron-replete young men | - | limited the deleterious effects | #8 |
iron supplementation | no change | decline in iron status | iron-replete young men | - | did not limit the deleterious effects | #9 |
BACKGROUND: Every day, blood banks worldwide face the challenge of ensuring an adequate blood supply. Iron deficiency is by far the most common cause of deferral of blood donors. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of iron supplementation after repeated blood donation on iron status and physiological performance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four moderately trained and iron-replete subjects were randomly divided into a whole blood donation (n=36) and a placebo donation (n=8) group. One third of the donation group received no iron supplementation, whereas one third received 20 mg iron and one third received 80 mg iron daily for 28 days. The subjects were intended to make three donations 3 months apart, and recovery of endurance capacity, assessed by an incremental maximal cycling test, and haematological parameters was monitored up to 28 days after each donation. RESULTS: Negative effects of repeated blood donation were found for markers of iron storage, markers of functional iron and/or iron metabolism regulation, and physiological markers. Iron supplementation did not affect iron storage but did limit, at the highest dose of 80 mg, the effect of blood donations on functional iron and/or iron metabolism regulation, and at both 20 and 80 mg the negative effects on maximal power output and peak oxygen consumption. DISCUSSION: Iron supplementation limited the deleterious effects of repeated blood donation on endurance sport performance but not on decline in iron status in iron-replete young men. These results underline the importance of iron supplementation to minimise the deleterious effects of blood donation on physiological functions, and the necessity to optimise the supplementation strategy to preserve iron status.