Why is RBC count and Hb concentration lower in females compared to males?

[E.S.Prakash]

My colleague Dr Pavithran (A J Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalore, India) is wondering the mechanism that underlies the lower RBC count and lower hemoglobin concentration in females compared to males?

I remember having read that estrogens do have an inhibitory effect on erythropoiesis and that androgens activate them, and at least in menstruating women the periodic loss of hemoglobin and RBC can partly account for it but I do not have a more specific referenced response at the moment.

Any references to this would be helpful.

Prakash
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[E.S.Prakash]

Here is one paper discussing this issue - http://www.bmj.com/content/322/7298/1355.full

P. Pavithran
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Forwarded by Prakash