Kari Almendingen Olau Fausa Arne Tore Høstmark Jorunn Bratlie Lars Mørkerid Lars Aabakken Morten Harald Vatn Serum nutrients and habitual dietary intake in colectomized FAP patients in Norway Received: 2 June 2008 Accepted: 11 December 2008 Published online: 13 January 2009 Disclaimers: None of the authors had any disclaimers. K. Almendingen (&) Unit of Clinical Research Research Center, box 95 Akershus University Hospital 1478 Lørenskog, Norway Tel.: +47/6792-9297 Fax: +47/6792-7803 E-Mail: kari.almendingen@ahus.no K. Almendingen Æ O. Fausa Æ J. Bratlie L Aabakken Æ M.H. Vatn Dept. of Medicine Rikshospitalet University Hospital Oslo, Norway A.T. Høstmark Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine University of Oslo Oslo, Norway L. Mørkerid Medical Center, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry University of Oslo Oslo, Norway M.H. Vatn EpiGen, Faculty Division Akershus University Hospital University of Oslo Oslo, Norway j Abstract Background Patients with familial adenomatous poly- posis (FAP) are colectomized in young age in order to avoid development of colorectal cancer. Because colectomy radically changes gastrointestinal physiol- ogy, and food avoidance may be present, colectomized patients may be at risk for nutritional deficiency. Aim of the study to evaluate: (1) serum biochemical levels as compared to reference; (2) dietary intake as compared to the recommendations. Methods Blood samples, interviews and food frequency questionnaire were collected from 38 colectomized FAP patients with duodenal ade- nomas (mean age 40 years, range: 24–70). They were recruited from the Norwegian database on FAP. Results Serum albumin was sig- nificantly higher (P £ 0.0001), and Mg (P = 0.02), ferritin (P £ 0.001), and cholesterol (P = 0.03) signifi- cantly lower, than reference levels. Compared to recommendations, a low intake was seen for folate and fiber (<50%), iron, thiamin, ribo- flavin (<25%), and omega-3 fatty acids (8%). Sugar intake exceeded the recommendation, mainly due to a high intake of soft drinks. Food avoidance was reported by 53%. Conclusions We would sug- gest that the nutrient intake among FAP patients should at least meet the recommendations for healthy subjects. Their risk of metachronous cancers should also cause special attention to dietary factors that may prevent nutritional deficiency and carcinogenesis. j Key words familial adenoma- tous polyposis – ileostomy – colectomy – diet – nutritional status Introduction Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a rare autosomal dominantly inherited disorder caused by germline mutations in the APC gene [23]. Patients with FAP are colectomized in young age in order to avoid development of colorectal cancer [35]. In spite of colectomy, these patients remain at an increased cancer risk at other sites. ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION Eur J Nutr (2009) 48:129–136 DOI 10.1007/s00394-008-0772-1 EJN 772