Efficacy of oral iron supplementation is not enhanced by additional intravenous iron during autologous blood donation

BACKGROUND: The study compared the efficacy of oral iron combined with intravenous iron supplementation to that of oral iron supplementation alone in increasing the preoperative production of hemoglobin (Hb) in autologous blood donors with normal iron stores. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: One hundred eight iron-replete patients who were scheduled for donation of 3 units of autologous blood at weekly intervals were randomly assigned to receive, in a double-blind fashion, no iron supplementation (placebo, Group 1), oral iron supplementation (285.6 mg of elemental iron/day, Group 2), or oral iron plus intravenous iron supplementation (285.6 mg of elemental iron/day orally plus 102.5 mg of elemental iron/week intravenously, Group 3). The amount of Hb produced during the 21-day study period was determined by the total amount of Hb donated minus the change in the amount of circulating Hb between the first donation (Day 0) and the poststudy examination (Day 21). RESULTS: Hb production did not differ significantly in the two iron-supplemented groups (oral iron, 85 +/- 36 g; oral plus intravenous iron, 74 +/- 43 g). The patients in the oral iron group produced a significantly greater amount of Hb than those in the placebo group (85 +/- 36 g vs. 52 +/- 41 g, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Oral iron supplementation increased the production of Hb in autologous blood donors more than placebo did. Additional intravenous iron did not lead to a further increase in preoperative Hb production.