Shanghai, Dec. 5 (CNA) Taiwanese businessman Chen Tse-jen has donated 166 bags of blood since he moved to Shanghai in 2003, making him the top blood donor in the Chinese city, according to the Shanghai Morning Post Friday.

The paper said that the total amount of blood he has donated is equivalent to 40 times that required for a full blood transfusion.

Moreover, the paper reported, on Thursday Chen donated his 200th bag of platelets -- blood cells that help control bleeding -- in China. Including platelet donations made in his native Taiwan, Chen has given a total of 615 bags of platelets.

The 58-year-old Chen said that visits to hospital as a child made him realize the importance of blood donations. As a child he was very sick, Chen explained, and he saw how a shortage of blood caused great anxiety among the families of patients.

Besides helping others, Chen added, giving blood allowed him to check up on his health as well.

To keep himself in good condition after donating blood, Chen said that he ate protein, whole grains, and grapes and spinach, which help in the regeneration of white blood cells, platelets and red blood cells, respectively.

In addition to giving blood, Chen regularly takes part in events aimed at encouraging people to donate blood. He said that one man can only help so much. More people can be helped if more donors come forward, he said.

"I'm happy to share the joy of helping others with everyone," he added.

According to the newspaper, Chen started donating blood 39 years ago. Since 1985, Chen has been donating blood components, which are deemed to be highly functional in medical practices. (By Cheng Chung-sheng and Nell Shen) enditem/npw