Chlormethiazole and utilization of vitamin B1 in chronic alcoholics

Blood vitamin B1 status as reflected by erythrocyte transketolase activation tests has been assessed in 12 chronic alcoholic (M = 8; F = 4; mean age +/- 53.4 +/- 12.9) both before and after treatment with chlormethiazole and parenteral polyvitamins including thiamine hydrochloride. 7 out of 12 patients (58.3%) were found to be deficient before treatment but all returned to normal after treatment. Mean +/- SD, of alpha ETK improved pre-treatment level of 1.174 +/- 0.135 to 1.009 +/- 0.009 after treatment with thiamine. Chlormethiazole did not seem to interfere with the utilization of thiamine. It is therefore concluded, that though structurally related to the thiazole nucleus of thiamine, chlormethiazole, like thiamine antagonists, does not antagonize the effect of the co-enzyme - thiamine pyrophosphate at the receptor sites on the apo-enzyme - transketolase.