METABOLIC STUDIES IN PATIENTS WITH CANCER OF THE GASTRO-INTESTINAL TRACT. I. PLASMA VITAMIN A LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT NEOPLASTIC DISEASE, PARTICULARLY OF THE GASTRO-INTESTINAL TRACT 1

Abstract

The plasma vit. A of patients with gastro-intestinal cancer was below the normal range in 86% of the patients examined, and was not explained by dietary deficiency or malabsorption of the vit. in more than half the patients. The adm. of large amts. of vit. A did not raise the plasma levels but oral adm. of brewers'' yeast, lipocaic, or choline was always followed by a rise in the plasma vit. A. Altered hepatic functions obtained in all patients with gastro-intestinal cancer and the livers of these patients may no longer have the ability properly to form, store or distribute the vit. Individuals with atrophic gastritis or oral leukoplakia (lesions commonly considered precancerous), and those who had had successful resection of gastro-intestinal cancer had a much lower incidence of reduced plasma vit. A level, and hepatic dysfunction was less evident in these groups.