There are eight main blood types, but some are more common than others, and can receive transfusions in different ways in case they are needed for surgery or an emergency. We all know the main groups: A, B, O and AB, but there is also the Rhesus protein which qualifies these blood groups as positive (if they have the protein) or negative.
Of all the combinations, AB-negative is the rarest blood type. Let’s have a look at some key facts about AB-negative blood type.
AB Negative Blood Facts
1. This is the least frequent blood type combination
While 35% of people are O-positive, for example, and the vast majority of people in the world have Rh-positive blood types, the combination of AB blood group and Rh-negative is the rarest encountered. AB-positive people represent roughly 2% of the population, and AB-negative are just 1%, an interesting fact about AB Negative Blood Type.
2. You can receive blood donations from any Rh-negative blood type if you’re AB-negative
As a rule, all Rh-negative blood groups can only receive transfusions from other Rh-negative blood groups. An interesting fact about AB Negative Blood Type is that they can receive blood from all other groups (i.e. A, B, O and AB-negative donors).
3. The plasma from AB-negative blood types is very important
When you donate blood, it will either be used as whole blood or split into plasma, platelets and red blood cells, and used as required.
The plasma from AB-negative donors can be used to treat patients of all blood types, which makes it extremely useful. However, it appears than only male plasma donations can be freshly frozen and used. The female plasma can have antibodies produced by female donors either when pregnant or not, which can be life threatening to patients who receive it.
4. Because it’s so rare, AB-negative blood donations are hard to find
As it’s the rarest blood type, it’s difficult to find donors to fill stocks of AB-negative blood as much as can be done with the other blood groups. Campaigns do focus on this, as relatively small changes in how many donations are made can make a serious impact on the amount that is stored by hospitals and emergency services.
5. People with AB blood group can develop cognitive issues more than others
Some research has found that both AB-positive and AB-negative blood groups can have poorer cognitive health. As such, people with these blood types were found to have 82% higher risk of cognitive impairment, an interesting AB Negative blood type fact.
6. There was a suggestion of diet implications from having AB-negative blood
In 1996, a naturopathic physician called Peter D’Adamo came up with a diet based on blood types, suggesting that people with AB blood types should eat differently from the rest, in order to be healthy and lose weight. The recommendations for general health were to eat dairy, tofu, lamb, fish, grains, fruit, and vegetables. In order to lose weight, it was suggested that tofu, seafood, green vegetables, and kelp would be the best options, and also that chicken, corn, buckwheat and kidney beans should be avoided.
To look deeper into this research, scientist from Harvard University reviewed the recommendations and their foundations, which were that blood type would be closely linked to our ability to digest particular ingredients. However, no actual experiments showed that these diets were any good and no conclusive results were recorded.
7. AB-negative blood was thought to influence personality traits
Just like the diet suggestions above, there have been some scientists who believe that your blood type might have a bearing on your personality. This was predominantly put forward by a Japanese professor in the 1930s (Tokeji Furukawa), but it doesn’t seem to have any scientific proof.
However, in Japan, knowing other people’s blood type is taken very seriously, and the belief that it influences your personality is held to this day. People with AB Negative blood types are meant to be complicated, with dual personalities reflecting a mix of traits expected to be found in blood types A and B. Apparently, AB blood types try to keep their true personalities hidden from others and are difficult to get to know well. However, they were believed to be charming and make friends easily.
There was no further delving into what the Rh type could influence, but obviously, this type of approach to blood groups hasn’t spread as far and wide as perhaps the professor expected it to. It did take hold in Japan, though!
8. Mick Jagger is AB-negative
As far as famous people go, we know that the Rolling Stones superstar is an AB-negative. Whether this has influenced him in any way, remains to be seen by future research endeavors!
9. AB-negative blood is rarest in Asian Americans
Of all research done around AB-negative people, there are American studies showing how this is present in people of different racial backgrounds. Most people with AB-negative blood are Caucasian – the blood type is present in 1% of them. The rarest is in Asian people – 0.1%, then Latinos – 0.2%, and finally African-American – also 0.2%, an interesting fact about AB Negative Blood Type.
10. There are strange rumors about AB-negative blood types
For a long time, Rh-negative blood groups in general have been considered a magnet for all sorts of unusual happenings. There are lots of websites dedicated to theorists positing that Rh-negative blood is alien in origin and this would explain why it’s so rare, as well as going so far as to say that if you have Rh-negative blood, you might be more likely to be kidnapped by aliens.
AB-negative blood being the rarest makes it the target for the same type of rumors. There is also a theory about how most royalty and prominent presidents had AB-negative blood, but this cannot be scientifically proven in any case. This doesn’t stop some from calling it “Royal Blood” though.
Conclusion
We know that AB-negative blood is the rarest blood group, which makes it extremely important that those with this blood type continue to donate in order to help similar people when hospitalized. Beyond that, here you have some interesting facts about AB-negative blood group – some crazier than others!
I hope that this article on AB negative blood facts was helpful! If you are interested, visit the Health Facts Page!
