Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) guys that Donate Blood Regularly Need more Iron?

[Alpin]

Blood donors don't need anything unless a deficiency occurs, which is extremely rare. Any effects from donating blood are temporary and will be replenished quickly. Developing a deficiency would indicate a lack of diversity with your diet.

Yeah but WtGrantham touched on something important in regards to Ferritin.
Being on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) your Hemo and HCT increase and it sounds like it draws from Ferritin stores. Why else is he low ?
My Ferritin was brought down to half it's level after 10 months on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) with only a marginal increase in both Hemo and HCT.
My baseline Hemo was 15 and HCT was 45 % before testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
After 10 months of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) Hemo climbed to 16.5 and HCT 48% respectively... bringing my Ferritin down to half the level it was before TRT.
My Ferritin has always been 140 and after 10 months of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) it was 65...

 

[Alpin]

No, not Red Cross once my hemoglobin couldn't be read by the machine (meaning it was over 19) she said "let's go get some of that iron out of you!"

Sounds scary. So you got a script for therapeutic phlebotomy or did she help you out without script?
Hopefully you popped a couple aspirins to thin it out before donating.
Did it take long for you to fill the pint?

 

[Austin1]

Yeah but WtGrantham touched on something important in regards to Ferritin.
Being on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) your Hemo and HCT increase and it sounds like it draws from Ferritin stores. Why else is he low ?
My Ferritin was brought down to half it's level after 10 months on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) with only a marginal increase in both Hemo and HCT.
My baseline Hemo was 15 and HCT was 45 % before testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
After 10 months of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) Hemo climbed to 16.5 and HCT 48% respectively... bringing my Ferritin down to half the level it was before TRT.
My Ferritin has always been 140 and after 10 months of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) it was 65...

Well, is Ferritin the only thing that's low? What about Iron, TIBC, UIBC, and Transferrin? You can't conclude iron deficiency otherwise.

This is very simple. He's hypersensitive to Hepcidin (Master iron regulator) suppression.

 

[Alpin]

Well, is Ferritin the only thing that's low? What about Iron, TIBC, UIBC, and Transferrin? You can't conclude iron deficiency otherwise.

This is very simple. He's hypersensitive to Hepcidin (Master iron regulator) suppression.

I read many guys are more sensitive to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) as they age with increased RBC production.
Yes, My Iron, TIBC e.t.c. were a tad low while on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) a few years ago.
Doc smirked and said: "you don't eat red meat"?
My Ferritin stayed in the Normal range...
<12 UG/L is Ferritin deficiency.

 

[bushleaguechew]

It takes months to replenish your stores. But if your worried then take some supplementation. 18mg of elemental iron (that is iron without the weight of its molecule, sort of like test without an ester) is the recommended daily amount for a healthy adult. 200 mg of elemental iron divided into three doses daily is the therapeutic dose for individuals with iron deficiency. Vitamin C and acidic foods help with absorption, PPIs such as Prilosec lower your stomach acidity, decreasing what you can absorb from your diet. In any case your body can only absorb between 2-20% of iron depending on its need. However heme iron from red meat can be absorbed in higher percentages, between 13-35%, making it a superior dietary source.

Eat more red meat