[Thiamine, riboflavine and pyridoxine supply in chronic alcoholism (author's transl)]

Tests on 50 chronic alcoholics demonstrated that there was a reduced supply of thiamine (measured with the transketolase activation test) and riboflavine (glutathione reductase test) compared with results obtained in 1152 healthy controls. A high risk of thiamine deficiency was present in 45.4% of male and 50% of female alcoholics; risk of riboflavine deficiency was 11.1% and 16.7%, respectively. Corresponding results in the normal controls were 2% for thiamine and 0.4% for riboflavine deficiency. There was a significant relationship between enzymatic values of thiamine deficiency, on the one hand, and anaemia, abnormal liver functions (bilirubin, gamma-globulin) and low diastolic arterial pressure, on the other. Enzymatic riboflavine values also correlated with haemoglobin content, so that it is assumed that the anaemia is associated with the reduced thiamine or riboflavine supply. Enzymatic determination of pyridoxine with the GOT activation test would seem to be influenced by alcohol or by metabolic processes induced by it and is therefore not suitable in the presence of chronic alcoholism.