[Changes in human thiamine metabolism at a coastal station in the Antarctic]

In the course of human adaptation to the climatic and geographic factors, there was a stable reduction of thiamine concentration in blood and urine. The activity of red cell transketolase did not change or slightly rose. The changes in TDF effect were insignificant thus pointing to the absence of hypovitaminosis. Intensive vitamin therapy did not lead to an essential increase in thiamine blood concentration which made up 2.0--2.5 micrograms % and as usual remained lower than generally accepted rates. The main amount of thiamine was excreted with urine. TDF effect did not exceed 4--8%. The results obtained indicate high transketolase saturation with thiamine diphosphate with low thiamine concentration in blood. The changes in carbohydrate-lipid metabolism were characterized by the inhibition of glycolytic processes and the increased blood content of transport fat. Thus the changes in thiamine correlate with the diminution of the energy role of carbohydrates in man in the Antarctic.