Correlation between neurological dysfunction with vitamin E deficiency and gastrectomy.
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.
Ueda
Naohisa
N
Department of Neurology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. uedan@ck9.so-net.ne.jp
Suzuki
Yume
Y
Rino
Yasushi
Y
Takahashi
Tatsuya
T
Imada
Toshio
T
Takanashi
Yoshinori
Y
Kuroiwa
Yoshiyuki
Y
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
D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D024505:Tocopherols