Iron pills boost blood donations in ghana trial

NCT ID NCT06101238

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether giving low-dose iron supplements (65 mg daily) for 6 months helps people with low hemoglobin pass the blood donation screening and successfully donate within a year. Over 500 adults in Ghana who were deferred from donating due to low hemoglobin took part. Half received iron plus nutrition advice; the other half got nutrition advice only. Researchers tracked successful donations and side effects for 12 months.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

low-dose elemental iron (65 mg daily)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could help blood banks increase safe donations by quickly restoring hemoglobin levels in deferred donors.

What could go wrong

This is a completed pragmatic trial in Ghana; results may not apply to other settings. Iron supplements can cause mild stomach upset.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University of Minnesota

    Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55414, United States