Malabsorption of Folic Acid following Partial Gastrectomy

Abstract

Elsborg, L. Malabsorption of folic acid following partial gastrectomy. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1974, 9, 271-274.

Malabsorption of folic acid was detected in approximately one-third in a series of 40 gastrectomized patients. Folate deficiency was present in 6 patients, all of whom revealed a reduced absorption of folic acid. In 8 patients with impaired absorption of folic acid, a normal folate status was encountered. It is suggested that folate deficiency in postgastrectomy patients may occasionally originate from malabsorption of dietary folic acid. In some gastrectomized patients an absorptional defect of dietary folic acid seems to be compensated by a folate synthesis in the small intestine.

Key-words::

• Folic acid
• gastrectomy
• malabsorption