Donating blood offers an unexpected benefit to your health and life.

A team of scientists from the Francis Crick Institute conducted a study involving 217 men who had donated blood more than 100 times, comparing them with 212 men who had donated blood less than 10 times.

The results showed that frequent blood donations were associated with mutations in the DNMT3A gene, which plays a key role in blood cell production.

In laboratory experiments, the scientists sought to understand why this mutation was so common among frequent blood donors. They exposed genetically modified human blood cells to the hormone erythropoietin (EPO), which helps regulate red blood cell production.

They found that cells carrying the DNMT3A mutation grew 50% faster when exposed to this hormone compared to normal cells.

Regular blood donations contribute to increased levels of EPO in the body, which promotes the regeneration of blood stem cells and improves blood health. Dr. Dominic Bonnet, head of the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory at Crick University and lead author of the study, said: "Our study highlights how our genes interact with the environment and with aging. It appears that activities that reduce stress on blood cell production promote stem cell regeneration, supporting healthy growth rather than causing disease."

In another experiment, the scientists mixed cells modified with the DNMT3A gene with cells susceptible to leukemia. They found that cells from frequent blood donors grew faster, suggesting that regular donations may strengthen healthy cells and limit the growth of cancer cells.

However, the scientists stressed the need for further studies to determine the precise effect of blood donations on cancer risk, especially since blood donors are often healthy individuals, which could affect the results.

"Our sample size is relatively small, so we can't say for certain that blood donation reduces mutations associated with leukemia," explains Bonnet. "However, this study provides important information about the impact of certain mutations on blood cell health."

In addition to its potential role in cancer prevention, regular blood donation may also help lower blood pressure. A study of 292 donors found that people with high blood pressure saw improvements in their blood pressure readings after regular blood donations, with the improvement being more pronounced the more frequently they donated.