[Thiamine and thiamine pyrophosphate in obsese patients during partial and total fasting (author's transl)]

The development of vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency was investigated in 17 obese patients in the course of a 1000 calory diet or during total fasting for a fortnight. Compared with normal persons no changes of concentrations of total thiamine, TPP, and pyruvate in the blood; thiamine excretion in the urine, or activiation coefficient of the eryhrocyte transketolase (alphaETK) were observed during the reducing diet. However, during a fortnight's total fasting all values decreased significantly to those of thiamine deficiency. The thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) levels in the blood dropped from the 1st to the 14th day, whereas the alphaETK rose accordingly and the pyruvate levels showed a delayed rise. Total thiamine content of the blood and thiamine excretion in the urine only showed significantly different values when comparing the 1st and the 14th day. There was no dependency of thiamine excretion on urinary output. Clinical symptoms of thiamine deficiency could be demonstrated in no case.