Vitamin Treatment

Must not donate if:
a) There is an underlying cause for vitamin deficiency that is a reason for exclusion.

b) If the donor has neurological damage due to B12 deficiency.

a) If the donor is being treated for a deficiency, discuss with DCSO.

b) If on oral self-medication or prescribed treatment to prevent deficiency, accept.

Vitamins commonly given to treat a deficiency include vitamin D, vitamin B12 and folic acid. Vitamin D is usually caused by dietary lack and lack of exposure to sunlight which do not contraindicate donation.

Vitamin B12 deficiency may be dietary or due to failure of absorption. One such failure of absorption, pernicious anaemia, is an autoimmune disorder usually caused by the body attacking the lining of the stomach. Other causes of malabsorption include coeliac disease, small bowel bacterial overgrowth and surgical removal of the stomach. Acceptable if due to stomach operation or dietary deficiency (e.g. vegan), and donor meets haemoglobin requirements.

Stem cell donors will have blood tests done before donation. These would pick up any effects of vitamin deficiency that could impact on the safety of donation such as low calcium and anaemia and allow individualised management.

To provide more detailed guidance regarding when affected donors can be accepted.