Climent M, et al. – The physicians performed this research to evaluate bone health after curative resection of gastric cancer and the consequences of high–dose vitamin D supplementation in patients with low levels of 25–(OH)–vitamin D. It was concluded that oral administration of high doses of vitamin D is easily implemented and restored 25–(OH)–vitamin D and iPTH values, which are frequently disturbed after gastric cancer resection.

Methods

• In this study cohort, disease–free patients at least 24 months after gastric cancer resection represented.
• They evaluated serum markers of bone metabolism at baseline and at 3 and 12 months.
• They analyzed bone mineral density and presence of fractures by X–ray at baseline.
• Patients with 25–(OH)–vitamin D ≤30 ng/mL at baseline received 16,000 IU of vitamin D3 every 10 days during the 1–year follow–up.
• In this study, they enrolled 40 patients.

Results

• In this study, 48.9 (24–109) months was the mean time from surgery.
• They observed vitamin D insufficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism in 38 and 20 patients, respectively.
• Densitometry displayed osteoporosis in 14 women and seven men and prevalent fractures in 12 women and six men at baseline.
• 35 patients reached values of 25–(OH)–vitamin D over 30 ng/mL after 3 months of vitamin D supplementation.
• 38 patients were in the normal range of 25–(OH)–vitamin D after 12 months.
• It was noted that iPTH levels and markers of bone turnover (C–terminal cross–linked telopeptide of type–I collagen, serum concentrations of bone–specific alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin) significantly decreased after vitamin D intervention at the same time.