Bloodletting (blood donation) as a possible method of rejuvenation of the body

Abstract Bloodletting is one of the oldest and most enduring medical procedures, which for millennia was considered a panacea for many diseases. Blood donation can be seen as an analog of bloodletting. There is evidence that regular blood donation has a positive effect on the body, improving the general health of the donor, reducing mortality from cardiovascular diseases, and even prolonging life. In our article, we substantiate the hypothesis about the rejuvenating effect of bloodletting. This effect of bloodletting may be associated with the following effects. Loss of blood cell mass activates hematopoiesis, resulting in the renewal of the cellular composition of the blood with young cells. Young blood can rejuvenate the entire body. It can be assumed that the regenerative factors formed during blood loss can activate the regeneration processes not only of the blood but also of other tissues. Blood loss leads to the loss of plasma, which reduces the concentration of aging proteins (chronokines). This effect is most likely short-lived but can have a rejuvenating effect on all the cells of the body. Loss of erythrocyte mass leads to the development of hypoxia, which can have a stimulating effect on the cells of the body. In the case of increased iron ions content in tissues, blood loss can favorably affect many processes, including carbohydrate and fat metabolism, skin condition, by reducing iron content in the body.