1. Heme iron and blood donation

2. Since blood donation is
voluntary and
this is a free service for
the fellow
man it´s natural to
”guard the sources”.
This means that blood
donors should
receive iron
supplementation to
compensate for iron loss
from the
blood donated,
especially if low values
are detected.

3. This has not always been
the case because of low
efficacy and frequent side-
effects from the non-heme
iron
supplements given.

4. Side effects often lead to the
donors stopping taking the
supplements, which in turn
means that they can only
donate blood perhaps once or
twice a year instead of normally
three times.

5. There are factors influencing
non-heme iron absorption
itself.
Among these are tannins in tea
and coffee. Phytates in whole
grain bread, milk proteins,
albumin and soy proteins may
also reduce absorption.
This means that a regular diet
and non-heme supplements
may not be enough to
compensate for iron loss.
Heme iron absorption is not
affected by any of these
factors.

6. Non-heme supplements at 100
mg Fe++ per dose regularly
have an incidence of side-
effects leading to termination
of the therapy of around 30 %.
Donors that have previous
negative experiences will
usually not take the
supplements at all.

7. It has been observed that after
a donation absorption of non-
heme iron practically ceases for
around four days.
Heme iron, however is
absorbed normally.

8. The uptake of non-
heme iron is low and
will leave free iron
ions in the gut.
These in themselves
are highly reactive,
and considered toxic
to the organism.
Heme iron is taken up
as a whole structure
leaving no free iron
irons.

9. Heme iron is
very well
tolerated and
is known to
have a side-
effects ratio
as placebo.
This means a
higher
therapy
success rate.

10. Heme iron will also not
block the uptake of zinc
as non-heme iron in
doses over 60 mg will.

11. This is why OptiFer® C, M and F tablets with
a dose of 18 mg Fe++ can successfully compete with
non-heme tablets of 100 mg Fe++.