title: Correlation between neurological dysfunction with vitamin E deficiency and gastrectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We previously reported on vitamin E malabsorption after gastrectomy. In this study, we focused on neurological dysfunction due to serum vitamin E decrease during the postgastrectomy period in lager number of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the type of gastrectomy, type of reconstruction, serum vitamin E level, and neurological status for 96 gastrectomy patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low serum vitamin E levels were observed in 20 patients, and 10 of those patients suffered some neurological symptoms, i.e., peripheral neuropathy, limb or truncal ataxia. Vitamin E levels tended to decrease with time after gastrectomy, and the number of patients with low serum vitamin E levels increased at about 50 months after gastrectomy. This relationship was stronger in total gastrectomy patients than in subtotal gastrectomy patients. Ten patients were given oral vitamin E, and serum vitamin E levels normalized in 9 of the patients and neurological abnormalities improved in 8 patients. An oral intake of 300 mg or more of vitamin E was necessary for normalization of vitamin E levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gastrectomy should be considered a risk for vitamin E deficiency and neurological disturbance over the long-term clinical course. An oral vitamin E supply can improve serum vitamin E levels and neurological symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. uedan@ck9.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Naohisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Yume
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rino
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imada
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takanashi
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuroiwa
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001259:Ataxia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D018450:Disease Progression; D004244:Dizziness / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013995:Time; D013997:Time Factors; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D024505:Tocopherols