Related Experiment Videos
Biochemical assessment of thiamine nutrition in childhood
Insights
Red blood cell transketolase activity and thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) effect levels change throughout childhood. Some children show marginal or deficient TPP-effect without clinical signs.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Transketolase (TK) is a key enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway.
- Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) is the active form of thiamine (vitamin B1).
- Assessing TK activity and TPP effect provides insight into thiamine status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine red cell transketolase activity and TPP effect in healthy children aged 1 month to 14 years.
- To analyze age-related changes in these biochemical markers.
- To identify the prevalence of marginal or deficient thiamine status in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Micromethod used for determining red cell transketolase activity.
- TPP effect was assessed to evaluate enzyme response to thiamine pyrophosphate.
- Study included 1028 healthy infants and children, and 37 adults.
Main Results:
- Transketolase activity showed a decrease in the second year, increased until age 6, remained stable, then decreased.
- TPP effect exhibited less stability, with significant changes between ages 3-7 and a gradual decrease from age 10.
- Biochemical thiamine deficiency (TPP effect) was found in 1.3% of children and 2.7% of adults, with marginal deficiency in 6.6% of children and 5.4% of adults.
Conclusions:
- Red blood cell transketolase activity and TPP effect demonstrate distinct age-dependent patterns in children.
- A notable percentage of healthy children and adults exhibit marginal or deficient TPP effect, indicating potential subclinical thiamine insufficiency.
- These findings highlight the importance of monitoring thiamine status, even in seemingly healthy pediatric populations.
Abstract:
The activity of red cell transketolase and TPP-effect were determined in 1028 infants and children, aged 1 month to 14 years, using a micromethod. All the children were healthy and without evidence of malnutrition. Transketolase activity decreased in the second year of life, followed by a constant increase up to the 6th year. Activity did not change in the next four years, then a steady decrease occurred. TPP-effect was not as stable as transketolase activity, and decreased significantly from years 3 to 5 and increased significantly from years 5 to 7. Beginning with year 10, TPP-effect decreased gradually. 6.6% of all children investigated had marginally deficient TPP-effects and 1.3% were biochemically deficient without clinical signs of avitaminosis. A group of 37 adults had transketolase activities and TPP-effect comparable to those of the 13 year-olds. Effect appeared to be marginal in 5.4% and deficient in 2.7%.