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Transketolase activity in psychiatric patients
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
|October 1, 1979
Summary
Many psychiatric inpatients show thiamine deficiency, even those receiving vitamin supplements. This highlights a need to investigate underlying causes of thiamine pyrophosphate deficiency in this population.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Clinical Psychology
- Hematology
Background:
- Thiamine (vitamin B1) is crucial for neurological function.
- Thiamine deficiency is common in various patient groups.
- Assessing thiamine status is important for psychiatric inpatients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the thiamine status of nonalcoholic psychiatric inpatients.
- To determine the prevalence of thiamine deficiency in this cohort.
- To explore potential contributing factors beyond poor nutrition.
Main Methods:
- Measured transketolase activity in red blood cell hemolysates.
- Assessed enzyme activity before and after adding thiamine pyrophosphate.
- Included 42 physically healthy, nonalcoholic psychiatric inpatients.
Main Results:
- 16 out of 42 patients (38%) exhibited thiamine deficiency.
- Five deficient patients had recently received thiamine supplements (2-47 days).
- This suggests factors other than inadequate dietary intake contribute to deficiency.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of nonalcoholic psychiatric inpatients are thiamine deficient.
- Thiamine deficiency may persist despite vitamin supplementation.
- Further research is needed to understand the etiology of thiamine deficiency in this population.