[Changes in serum levels of folic acid after total gastrectomy]

The Authors, in consideration that Folic Acid is assimilated in the upper alimentary tract, effected a comparative study between its seric levels in normal patients and in patients submitted to gastrectomy for gastric cancer, at different times from the operation. In the patients of the first group, Folic Acid levels were not correlated with sex, but to age, decreasing with the increasing of it. In gastrectomized patients, serum levels, also if acceptable, were always lower than in control cases, and gradually decreasing with the increasing of the age. The Authors conclude that, obviously, intestinal assimilation and endogenous reserves are able to counterbalance for enough long time the insufficient alimentary absorption.