Epileptic manifestations and vitamin B1 deficiency

Sixteen of 50 consecutive neurological patients with a diagnosis of thiamine deficiency showed epileptic (10) or epileptiform (6) manifestations. A survey of the literature revealed only few reports on a possible relationship between epilepsy and thiamine deficiency. It appears that thiamine deficiency may provoke epileptic phenomena in those patients who have subclinical predisposition for seizures. The presence of irritative activity on electroencephalographic recordings in the patients may be a consequence of a vitamin B1 deficiency state. The possible pathophysiological mechanisms by which thiamine deficiency may contribute to seizure activity of the brain are discussed.