Abstract
Introduction: We evaluated serum vitamin A and E in patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Patients and Methods: Subjects were 55 patients-35 men and 20 women with a mean age of 66.7 yearswho had undergone gastrectomy for gastric cancer and had no evidence of recurrence. Surgery involved subtotal gastrectomy in 29 and total gastrectomy in 26. We measured postoperative white (WBC) and red blood cell counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, and serum levels of vitamins E, vitamin B12, folic acid, total cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, and body mass index. Results: Serum vitamin A levels decreased in 1 (1.8%) of the 55 and serum E levels in 12 (21.8%). Low vitamin E was associated significantly with low total cholesterol, low vitamin A, and high WBC count. Low vitamin E was significantly more frequent in the total gastrectomy group than in the subtotal gastrectomy group. In light of reconstruction procedures, the incidence of low vitamin E was significantly higher in patients without food passage through the duodenum. Discussion: While we assume that vitamin E deficiency is more common than thought, further assessment is needed to determine the relationship between gastrectomy for gastric cancer and vitamin A and E levels.
