Absorption of Cobalt⁶⁰-Labeled Vitamin B₁₂ After Subtotal Gastrectomy

Vitamin B₁₂ absorption has been studied in patients with subtotal gastrectomy by means of the Co⁶⁰ B₁₂ urinary excretion test. Five patients tested before and after a conventional subtotal gastrectomy showed no significant change in absorption.

Of 22 patients who were tested at various intervals after a conventional (distal) subtotal gastrectomy, 19 had normal vitiamin B₁₂ absorption and three had low absorption that was corrected to normal by giving gastric juice with the test dose. Three patients who had had a proximal gastrectomy showed normal vitamin B₁₂ absorption, indicating that intrinsic factor was being produced by the remaining distal portion of the stomach.