Erythrocyte transketolase activity in protein-energy malnutrition

Erythrocyte transketolase activity (ETKA) and the percentage thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) effects have been measured in a group of 10 healthy children and 50 malnourished subjects (23 oedematous and 27 non-oedematous cases). The observed ETKA values and percentage TPP effects for the two malnourished groups of subjects differed significantly (P less than 0.001) from the values for the control group. These values reverted almost to normal in 24 subjects who were re-tested after 6 weeks of thiamine therapy. Suggestions are made for this apparent biochemical thiamine deficiency without manifestations in these subjects.