BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency is a frequent side effect of blood donation. In 
recent years, several studies have described genetic variants associated with 
iron concentrations. However, the impact of these variants on iron levels is 
unknown in blood donors. Knowledge of genetic variants that predispose donors to 
iron deficiency would allow bleeding frequency and iron supplementation to be 
tailored to the individual donor.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The genotypes of five specific single-nucleotide 
polymorphisms (SNPs) in three genes that have been previously associated with 
iron status and/or restless leg syndrome (RLS) were investigated in two groups 
of female blood donors. The first group had low iron stores (serum ferritin ≤ 
12 µg/L, n = 657), and the second group had normal to high iron stores (serum 
ferritin > 30 µg/L, n = 645). Genotype distribution for each of the SNPs was 
compared between the two groups.
RESULTS: Homozygosity for the T-allele of BTBD9 rs9296249 was associated with 
lower serum ferritin. The odds ratio for low serum ferritin was 1.35 (95% 
confidence interval, 1.02-1.77; p = 0.03) when comparing donors with the TT 
genotype with donors with the CT genotype.
CONCLUSION: A frequent polymorphism in BTBD9 was significantly associated with 
serum ferritin. This polymorphism has previously been associated with RLS, but 
not low iron stores in blood donors.