A Gender Comparison of Bone Metabolic Changes After Gastric Cancer Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study

This study was designed to investigate gender-related differences in changes in bone metabolism after gastric cancer surgery.

We prospectively recruited 47 patients (38 males and 9 females) who had early gastric cancer. The bone mineral density (BMD), serum levels of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25(OH)₂VD), 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)VD), and estradiol (E2) were measured before and after surgery.

BMD significantly decreased 12 months after surgery by median degrees of 3.4% and 3.9% in male and female patients, respectively (p<0.001 and p=0.023). There was no significant difference between both genders in the rate of change in BMD after surgery. The serum E2 level in male patients significantly increased by a median value of 22 pg/ml 12 months after gastrectomy (p=0.030). Both the serum 25(OH)VD and 1,25(OH)₂VD levels remained nearly within the normal range throughout the observation period in both male and female patients.

BMD significantly decreased within 12 months after gastrectomy in both male and female patients with gastric cancer, and there was no significant gender-related difference in the rate of change in BMD.