Vitamin E deficiency begins within 6 months after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Abstract

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: Yasushi Rino, Norio Yukawa, Tsutomu Sato, Naoto Yamamoto, Hiroshi Tamagawa, Shinichi Hasegawa, Tsutomu Hayashi, Yosuke Atsumi, Takashi Oshima, Takaki Yoshikawa, Munetaka Masuda, Toshio Imada
• Journal: World journal of surgery (World J Surg) Vol. 38 Issue 8 Pg. 2065-9 (Aug 2014) ISSN: 1432-2323 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24668454 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Vitamin E
• Cholesterol

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (surgery)
• Aged
• Cholesterol (blood)
• Female
• Gastrectomy (adverse effects, methods)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Postoperative Period
• Risk Factors
• Stomach Neoplasms (surgery)
• Vitamin E (blood)
• Vitamin E Deficiency (blood, etiology)