Micronutrient Deficiencies Following Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy for Cancer

• Published in: Nutrients 2020-03, Vol.12 (3), p.778
• Main Authors: Janssen, Henricus J B, Fransen, Laura F C, Ponten, Jeroen E H, Nieuwenhuijzen, Grard A P, Luyer, Misha D P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anemia; Cancer; Cohort Studies; Complications; Dietary Supplements; Esophageal cancer; Esophageal Neoplasms - mortality; Esophageal Neoplasms - physiopathology; Esophageal Neoplasms - surgery; esophagectomy; Esophagectomy - adverse effects; Esophagus; Female; Ferritin; Folic acid; Gastrointestinal surgery; Humans; Iron; Male; Malnutrition - etiology; Malnutrition - mortality; Malnutrition - prevention & control; micronutrient deficiencies; Micronutrients - administration & dosage; Micronutrients - deficiency; Middle Aged; Nutritional Status; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Postoperative Complications - mortality; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Postoperative Period; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Studies; Survival; Time Factors; Vitamin B12; Vitamin B6; Vitamin D; vitamin deficiencies; Vitamin deficiency; Vitamin E; Vitamins
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu12030778

Over the past decades, survival rates for patients with resectable esophageal cancer have improved significantly. Consequently, the sequelae of having a gastric conduit, such as development of micronutrient deficiencies, become increasingly apparent. This study investigated postoperative micronutrient trends in the follow-up of patients following a minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) for cancer. Patients were included if they had at least one postoperative evaluation of iron, ferritin, vitamins B1, B6, B12, D, folate or methylmalonic acid. Data were available in 83 of 95 patients. Of these, 78.3% (65/83) had at least one and 37.3% (31/83) had more than one micronutrient deficiency at a median of 6.1 months (interquartile range (IQR) 5.4-7.5) of follow-up. Similar to the results found in previous studies, most common deficiencies identified were: iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. In addition, folate deficiency and anemia were detected in a substantial amount of patients in this cohort. At 24.8 months (IQR 19.4-33.1) of follow-up, micronutrient deficiencies were still common, however, most deficiencies normalized following supplementation on indication. In conclusion, patients undergoing a MIE are at risk of developing micronutrient deficiencies as early as 6 up to 24 months after surgery and should therefore be routinely checked and supplemented when needed.