ABSTRACT Iron deficiency is one of the most common of the nutritional deficiencies. The eventual consequence of iron deficiency is iron deficiency anemia; where the body stores of iron have been depleted and the body is unable to maintain level of hemoglobin in the blood. Blood donation leads to a substantial iron loss, as about 0.5mg iron is lost per each milliliter of blood donated. It is evident that haemoglobin level alone is inadequate for detecting blood donors with iron deficiency without anaemia. Studies have also shown that hemoglobin level may not correlate with iron status. The aim of this study, however was to assess the biochemical indices of iron and some haematological parameters amongst donors in Enugu State. Two hundred apparently healthy male blood donors from National blood Transfusion centre Enugu, University of Nigeria Teaching hospital and two private blood banks were used for the study. Forty apparently healthy non-donors were used as controls. Before starting the study, approval of the institutional ethical committee was obtained and informed consent was also obtained from the donors and controls to enable them participate effectively in the study. The donors were divided into 6 groups according to number of previous donations within last 3 years. The age range was between 19-50 years. Results showed that level of Hb, PCV, and iron status parameters were significantly decreased among the regular donors compared to controls. The mean ±2SD in ferritin level showed a significant decrease across the groups (P

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page - - - - - - - - - - i

Certification- - - - - - - - - ii

Dedication - - - - - - - - - - iii

Acknowledgement- - - - - - - - - iv

Table of Contents - - - - - - - - - v

List of Tables and Figures - - - - - - - viii

Abstract - - - - - - - - - - ix

CHAPTER ONE - - - - - - - - - 1

Introduction - - - - - - - - - - 1

1.1 Background of the Study - - - - - - - 1

1.2 Aims - - - - - - - - - - 5

1.3 Objectives - - - - - - - - - 5

CHAPTER TWO- - - - - - - - - 6

2.1 Literature Review - - - - - - - - 6

2.2 Dietary Iron Absorption - - - - - - - 6

2.3 Iron Storage - - - - - - - - - 8

2.4 How the Body Gets Its Iron - - - - - - - 9

2.5 Absorbing Iron from the Diet - - - - - - 9

2.6 Reasons for Iron Deficiency- - - - - - - 10

vii

2.7 Regulation by Location - - - - - - - 10

2.8 Haem Iron - - - - - - - - - 15

2.9 A Possible Role for DMTI (Divalent Metal Transporter) - - 17

2.9.1 Spectrum of Iron Deficiency - - - - - - 20

2.9.2 Non Anaemic Iron Deficiency - - - - - - 21

2.9.3 Ferritin - - - - - - - - - 21

2.10 Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) - - - - - 23

CHAPTER THREE - - - - - - - - 25

3.1 Material and Method - - - - - - - - 25

3.2 Methods - - - - - - - - - 27

3.3 Enzyme Immunoassay for the Quantitative Determination of Human

Ferritin Concentration in Human Serum. - - - - - 27

3.4 Teco Diagnostics for the Quantitative Determination of Iron, Total Iron

Binding Capacity in Human Serum - - - - - - 29

3.5 Hemoglobin Estimation - - - - - - - 31

3.6 Packed Cell Volume by Micro Haematocrit Method - - - 32

3.7 Total White Blood Cell Count - - - - - - 33

3.8 Differential White Blood Cell Count Using Leishman Stain - - 34

CHAPTER FOUR - - - - - - - - 36

4.1 Results - - - - - - - - - - 36

viii

CHAPTER FIVE - - - - - - - - - 46

5.1 Discussion - - - - - - - - - 46

5.2 Conclusion - - - - - - - - - 50

5.3 Recommendations - - - - - - - - 50

Reference - - - - - - - - - - 51

Appendix 1 - - - - - - - - - - 60