BACKGROUND: To clarify factors related to vitamin E malabsorption after gastric surgery, we evaluated serum vitamin E levels in patients who had undergone gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: We studied 39 patients (26 men, 13 women; mean age, 61.7 years) who underwent gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. Surgical procedures included 24 subtotal gastrectomies and 15 total gastrectomies. We measured serum levels of vitamin E before and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after gastrectomy. A level of less than 0.75 mg/dl was defined as a low vitamin E level. RESULTS: Serum vitamin E levels decreased to less than 0.75 mg/dl in 6 (15.4%) of the 39 patients within 6 months after gastrectomy and in 7 (17.9%) of the 39 patients within 1 year after gastrectomy. The proportion of patients with a low serum vitamin E level was significantly higher in the total gastrectomy group (p = 0.002). A low vitamin E level was significantly associated with a low total cholesterol level. Total cholesterol levels in low vitamin E levels patients were lower than normal vitamin E levels patients. None of the patients with a low vitamin E level had neuropathy. CONCLUSIONS: The type of operation performed (total vs. subtotal gastrectomy) may be the major cause of vitamin E malabsorption after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Vitamin E deficiency probably begins within 6 months after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
BACKGROUND: To clarify factors related to vitamin E malabsorption after gastric surgery, we evaluated serum vitamin E levels in patients who had undergone gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: We studied 39 patients (26 men, 13 women; mean age, 61.7 years) who underwent gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. Surgical procedures included 24 subtotal gastrectomies and 15 total gastrectomies. We measured serum levels of vitamin E before and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after gastrectomy. A level of less than 0.75 mg/dl was defined as a low vitamin E level. RESULTS: Serum vitamin E levels decreased to less than 0.75 mg/dl in 6 (15.4%) of the 39 patients within 6 months after gastrectomy and in 7 (17.9%) of the 39 patients within 1 year after gastrectomy. The proportion of patients with a low serum vitamin E level was significantly higher in the total gastrectomy group (p = 0.002). A low vitamin E level was significantly associated with a low total cholesterol level. Total cholesterol levels in low vitamin E levels patients were lower than normal vitamin E levels patients. None of the patients with a low vitamin E level had neuropathy. CONCLUSIONS: The type of operation performed (total vs. subtotal gastrectomy) may be the major cause of vitamin E malabsorption after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Vitamin E deficiency probably begins within 6 months after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
Authors: A Bousvaros; D Zurakowski; C Duggan; T Law; N Rifai; N E Goldberg; A M Leichtner Journal: J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr Date: 1998-02 Impact factor: 2.839
Authors: D Sharp; L Blinderman; K A Combs; B Kienzle; B Ricci; K Wager-Smith; C M Gil; C W Turck; M E Bouma; D J Rader Journal: Nature Date: 1993-09-02 Impact factor: 49.962
Authors: Geoffrey Roberts; Patrick R Benusiglio; Tanya Bisseling; Daniel Coit; Jeremy L Davis; Sam Grimes; Theresa A Guise; Richard Hardwick; Kirsty Harris; Paul Furman Mansfield; Jeremy Rossaak; Karen Chelcun Schreiber; Peter P Stanich; Vivian E Strong; Pardeep Kaurah Journal: Gastric Cancer Date: 2022-07-13 Impact factor: 7.701