YOUR regular donation of blood could be doing more than saving others' lives - it could benefit you too.
New research suggests it could strengthen your blood system and even lower your risk of blood cancer.
Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute studied blood samples from 217 men who had donated over 100 times, and compared them to samples from 212 men who had given fewer than 10 times.
Frequent donors were found to carry mutations in the DNMT3A gene, which plays a key role in blood cell production.
The scientists ran lab experiments using genetically modified human blood cells to find out why this mutation was more common in frequent donors.
Cells were exposed to erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that helps your body maintain a healthy red blood cell count.
The experiments found cells carrying the mutation grew 50 per cent faster in the presence of EPO than normal blood cells.
Essentially, donating blood increases the level of EPO in your blood, which favours the growth of these beneficial stem cells, promoting better blood health and regeneration.
Dominique Bonnet, Group Leader of the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory at the Crick, and senior author, said, "Our work is a fascinating example of how our genes interact with the environment and as we age.
"Activities that put low levels of stress on blood cell production allow our blood stem cells to renew and we think this favours mutations that further promote stem cell growth rather than disease."
In another experiment, DNMT3A-mutated cells were mixed with leukaemia-prone cells.
The frequent donor cells outgrew the cancerous ones, suggesting regular blood donation strengthens healthy blood stem cells while suppressing harmful ones.
But the scientists noted healthier people tend to give more blood, so more research is needed to fully assess the effects of giving blood on cancer risk.
Bonnet added: "Our sample size is quite modest, so we can't say that blood donation definitely decreases the incidence of pre-leukemic mutations and we will need to look at these results in much larger numbers of people.
"It might be that people who donate blood are more likely to be healthy if they're eligible, and this is also reflected in their blood cell clones.
"But the insight it has given us into different populations of mutations and their effects is fascinating."
The findings were published in the journal .
Previous research has suggested that donating blood may also reduce blood pressure.
In , scientists monitored the blood pressure of 292 donors who gave blood one to four times over the course of a year.
Around half had high blood pressure.
Overall, those with high blood pressure saw an improvement in their readings.
The more often a person gave blood, the more significant the improvement.
Before you give blood
Giving blood
Giving blood takes about an hour.
Remember to bring your completed donation safety check form with you.
You'll then be asked to read a donor consent booklet which explains the importance of blood safety.
You'll then be given 500ml of fluid just before you give blood. Drinking this over about 5 minutes will help with your well-being during and after donation.
The next step is to undergo health screening - you'll be asked to confirm your identity, and a drop of blood from your finger will be tested to check the iron levels.
If you're not able to donate someone will explain why, and may ask you to make another appointment.
If you' are're able to donate you will be asked to sit in a waiting area until you are called to a donation chair.
Blood donation
After confirming your identity again, a cuff will be placed on your arm to maintain a small amount of pressure
Once a suitable vein has been found, a needle will be inserted into your arm to collect into a blood bag with your unique donor number.
This shouldn't feel uncomfortable or painful.
A scale weighs the blood and stops when you have donated 470ml (or just under a pint). This usually takes five to 10 minutes.
The needle will then be removed, and a sterile dressing applied to your arm.
Source: NHS
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