The strategy of vitamin supplementation in Chinese patients with gastric cancer after gastrectomy: a prospective cohort study

This study investigated the effects of oral multivitamin supplementation on vitamin levels in Chinese gastric cancer patients after gastrectomy, aiming to provide a basis for postoperative vitamin supplementation strategies. A total of 78 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy were divided into an experimental group (41 patients, receiving oral multivitamins) and a control group (37 patients). Levels of folic acid, vitamin B₁₂, vitamin B₁, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were compared before and one month after surgery. Results showed that the level of vitamin B₁ in the experimental group was substantially higher than that in the control group when comparing the difference value between the preoperative and 1-month postoperative periods (P < 0.05). Although the deficiency rates of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vitamin B₁ were relatively high in both groups, the vitamin B₁ deficiency rates of the experimental group 1 month postoperatively were significantly lower than preoperative rates (P < 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that partial gastrectomy patients in the experimental group had increased vitamin B₁ levels and decreased deficiency rates compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The study suggests that systematic multivitamin supplementation should be routinely administered to Chinese gastric cancer patients following gastrectomy, with particular emphasis on initiating vitamin B₁ and vitamin D supplementation upon resumption of semi-solid oral intake. Patients after total gastrectomy may require additional vitamin B₁ supplementation. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these findings.