Clinical Study Title:
Enteral vitamin B12 supplements reverse postgastrectomy B12 deficiency.

Plain English Summary:

The anemia that occurs after a total gasterctomy is often due to deficiencies in iron as well as vitamin b12. The exact treatment and use of vitamin b12 for these patients has not been clearly defined. The purpose of this study then is to determine the usefulness of a vitamin b12 supplement to alleviate these deficiencies. Levels of b12 were measured, and the symptoms of deficiency were evaluated. A total of 31 patients then received supplementation of vitamin b12. This treatment helped to rapidly treat the deficiency and reverse the symptoms. This leads to the conclusion that vitamin b12 supplements should almost always be given with gastrectomy surgery.

Authors

Adachi S. Kawamoto T. Otsuka M. Todoroki T. Fukao K.

Institution

Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Country of Publication

United States

Source

Annals of Surgery. 232(2):199-201, 2000 Aug.