By Jessica Scarpati –
Most already know that donating blood is one of the easiest ways to do good for others. But what’s less recognized is that it provides donors with a boost to their own health.
“Each time a person donates blood, the body quickly begins the process of replacing lost blood cells, triggering the bone marrow to generate fresh ones,” Michelle Spear, PhD, an anatomy professor at the University of Bristol, wrote in a column for The Conversation. “ This natural renewal process may contribute to healthier, more resilient blood cells over time.”
New research suggests that this regular turnover is linked to beneficial genetic changes among frequent blood donors ― changes that might even be tied to a lower cancer risk.
“As we age, stem cells in the bone marrow naturally accumulate mutations, and with this, we see the emergence of clones, which are groups of blood cells that have a slightly different genetic makeup. Sometimes, specific clones can lead to blood cancers like leukemia,” The Francis Crick Institute reports.
A report reflects a recent Crick Institute study involving a genetic analysis of blood samples from 217 healthy men in their 60s who had donated blood more than 100 times in their lives. These results were compared against the analysis of 212 healthy men in their 60s who had donated blood less than 10 times ever.
In the end, they found that both groups had changes to a gene known as DNMT3A, which is mutated in people who develop leukemia. However, these changes showed up in different patterns for the two groups studied. Almost half of the frequent blood donors had a mutation that isn’t considered cancer-causing, compared with just 30 percent of the occasional donors.
“What’s interesting is we know through challenge we make things better―exercise makes the body stronger. Similarly, if you are donating blood, you are doing cellular exercise,” said Dr. Caroline Alquist, director of the Hoxworth Blood Center at the University of Cincinnati, who was not involved in the study.
While these findings are promising, experts caution that science still has a long way to go before concluding that donating blood prevents cancer.
If that disclaimer-heavy takeaway doesn’t get some blood pumping, there are more well-established health benefits to rolling up your sleeve to donate.
How thick or thin your blood is, also known as its viscosity, is thought to be an important factor in heart disease. Simply put, it’s harder for the heart to pump thick blood throughout the body. Regular blood donation can thin it out, according to Dr. Robert DeSimone, director of transfusion medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
“It definitely helps to reduce cardiovascular risk factors,” he said. “If your hemoglobin is too high, blood donation helps to lower the viscosity of the blood, which has been associated with the formation of blood clots, heart attacks and stroke. Interestingly, these benefits are more significant in men compared to women. We think maybe it’s because women have menstrual cycles, so they do it naturally.”
In her The Conversation column, Spear noted, “Some evidence even suggests that blood donation could improve insulin sensitivity, potentially playing a role in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.”
The pre-donation screening process is also often referred to as a “free mini-physical,” as prospective donors have their blood pressure, temperature, heart rate and iron levels checked.
“Sometimes we diagnose high blood pressure or an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). We also check for infectious diseases,” DeSimone told the American Heart Association (AHA). “Finding something like that can be life-altering.”
And at a time when blood banks nationwide continue to be plagued by critical shortages, perhaps the biggest benefit touches another part of the heart.
“One of the most distressing situations for a doctor is to have a hospital full of patients and an empty refrigerator without any blood products,” explained Dr. Pampee Young, MD, chief medical officer of the Red Cross, the nation’s largest blood supplier. “A person needs lifesaving blood every two seconds in our country—and its availability can be the difference between life and death. However, blood is only available thanks to the generosity of those who roll up a sleeve to donate.”
