You are caring for a man with a chronic transfusion requirement (typically two to three units of PRBCs each month). He asks you how he should modify his diet so that “I don’t need so much blood.” How...

You are caring for a man with a chronic transfusion requirement (typically two to three units of PRBCs each month). He asks you how he should modify his diet so that “I don’t need so much blood.” How would you respond? What role do iron supplements play in patients with chronic transfusion needs? How would you assess this patient for iron overload?