Vitamin D deficiency after gastrointestinal surgery - 2009

Vitamin D deficiency-incidence and response to oral supplementation among patients with various gastrointestinal malignancies.

2009 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium

Session Type and Session Title: General Poster Session F

Abstract No: 329

Author(s):C. Gilmore, J. James, B. Zubal, D. Thomas, B. R. Tan

25-OH vitamin D deficiency (%) amongst pts with GI cancers
(total n) any def severe mod mild low-nl nl
All, (202) 87.6% 17.8% 43.6% 26.2% 11.4% 1%
Male,(100) 91% 16% 51% 24% 7% 2%
Female, (102) 85.2% 19.6% 36.3% 28.4% 15.6% 0%
Age <65 (131) 87% 17.5% 43.5% 25.9% 11.4% 1.5%
Age >65 (71) 88% 18.3% 43.6% 26.8% 11.3% 0%
Colorectal (98) 88.8% 19.4% 36.7% 32.6% 9.2% 2%
Pancreatic (41) 87.8% 17.1% 48.8% 21.9% 12.2% 0%
Other (63) 84.1% 14.3% 50.8% 19% 14.3% 0%
Others: Other biliary (16), HCC (4), neuroendocrine (18), gastric (9), GIST (9), others (7)

Introduction: Vitamin (vit) D deficiency is prevalent amongst patients (pts) with colorectal and pancreatic cancers.

Data for other GI malignancies are limited and the impact of short-course oral vit D supplementation is unclear.

Methods: An IRB-approved retrospective review of 202 pts with GI cancers from 12/2007 to 9/2008 was done to evaluate the incidence of vitamin D deficiency defined as serum 25-OH vit D levels of <30 ng/ml (severe <10 ng/ml; moderate=10-20 ng/ml; mild=21-30 ng/ml) and incidence of 'low-normal' (31-50 ng/ml) and normal (>50 ng/ml) vit D levels. Oral supplementation with vit D at 50,000 'u' weekly x 8-12 weeks were done and serum levels were redrawn at 2-3 months for pts with low normal and deficient vit D, respectively.

Results: 87.6% of all 202 pts is vit D deficient (61% severe to moderate). (see Table). 92 pts were re-evaluated after 2-3 months of oral vit D supplementation. Among this cohort, the incidence of pts with vitamin deficiency decreased from 91.3% to 57.6% after first re-evaluation. Severe/moderate deficiency rates also decreased from 71.7% to 13%. There were no significant difference in response between males/females, age < or >65, caucasian or non-caucasian or tumor type.

Conclusions: Vitamin D levels should routinely be evaluated for patients with GI maligancies. Oral supplementation decreases the rate 'any' vit D deficiency from 91% to 57%, and of 'severe to moderate' deficiency from 72% to 13%. Prospective studies on the impact of vit D deficiency and supplementation on various clinical outcomes among patients with GI cancers would improve supportive care management of these patients.