Evidence against the reported antithiamine effect of caffeic and chlorogenic acids

Contrary to earlier literature reports, chlorogenic acid (I) is shown to have little or no deleterious effect on thiamine (II) when the 2 compounds are codissolved in aqueous solution. Evidence from nmr spectroscopy and from t. l. c. determination demonstrate that when II is heated at 60 degrees C and at pH 7.8 for 24h, about 10% is destroyed. This result is the same whether I is present or not. Incubating II with I or with caffeic acid (III) in a phosphate buffer at pH 7 or in thiamine assay medium at pH 6 for up to 24h at 37 degrees C did not reduce the growth activity of II or Lactobacillus viridescens. We conclude that I and III are not antithiamine agents.