B vitamins status: effect of prolonged heroin addiction and methadone treatment

Vitamin B1, B2 and B6 status were determined in 90 male heroin addicts admitted to Pramongkutklao Army Hospital. Their age (Mean +/- S.D.) was 25.5 +/- 7.8 years. Their activation coefficients of the enzyme transketolase, glutathione oxidoreductase and aspartate aminotransferase (ETK AC, EGR AC and EAST AC respectively) were significantly increased for addicts who were on drugs for a long time which indicated a biochemical deficiency. In addition, 26 follow-up cases treated with methadone for a period of one and two weeks were compared before and after treatment and it was found that ETK AC, EGR AC, and EAST AC were significantly decreased. This means that improvement in the vitamin B1, B2 and B6 status was obtained during admission.