The impact of iron supplementation efficiency in female blood donors with a decreased ferritin level and no anaemia. Rationale and design of a randomised controlled trial: a study protocol

• Published in: Current controlled trials in cardiovascular medicine Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 4
• Main Authors: Pedrazzini, Baptiste, Waldvogel, Sophie, Cornuz, Jacques, Vaucher, Paul, Bize, Raphael, Tissot, Jean-Daniel, Pecoud, Alain, Favrat, Bernard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 16.01.2009; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Affect - drug effects; Ambulatory care; Anemia; Biomarkers - blood; Blood & organ donations; Blood Donors; Blood tests; Blood transfusions; Complications and side effects; Consent; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Down-Regulation; Exercise Tolerance - drug effects; Fatigue; Fatigue - blood; Fatigue - drug therapy; Fatigue - psychology; Female; Ferritin; Ferritins - blood; Ferrous Compounds - administration & dosage; Health aspects; Hemoglobin; Hemoglobins - metabolism; Humans; Iron; Iron - deficiency; Iron deficiency diseases; Middle Aged; Pharmacists; Physiological aspects; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Research Design; Risk factors; Study Protocol; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Womens health; Switzerland
• ISSN: 1745-6215; 1745-6215
• DOI: 10.1186/1745-6215-10-4

There is no recommendation to screen ferritin level in blood donors, even though several studies have noted the high prevalence of iron deficiency after blood donation, particularly among menstruating females. Furthermore, some clinical trials have shown that non-anaemic women with unexplained fatigue may benefit from iron supplementation. Our objective is to determine the clinical effect of iron supplementation on fatigue in female blood donors without anaemia, but with a mean serum ferritin < or = 30 ng/ml. In a double blind randomised controlled trial, we will measure blood count and ferritin level of women under age 50 yr, who donate blood to the University Hospital of Lausanne Blood Transfusion Department, at the time of the donation and after 1 week. One hundred and forty donors with a ferritin level < or = 30 ng/ml and haemoglobin level >/= 120 g/l (non-anaemic) a week after the donation will be included in the study and randomised. A one-month course of oral ferrous sulphate (80 mg/day of elemental iron) will be introduced vs. placebo. Self-reported fatigue will be measured using a visual analogue scale. Secondary outcomes are: score of fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), maximal aerobic power (Chester Step Test), quality of life (SF-12), and mood disorders (Prime-MD). Haemoglobin and ferritin concentration will be monitored before and after the intervention. Iron deficiency is a potential problem for all blood donors, especially menstruating women. To our knowledge, no other intervention study has yet evaluated the impact of iron supplementation on subjective symptoms after a blood donation. NCT00689793.