Thiamine deficiency and nervous system function disturbances

Abstract

Thiamine is important for oxidative metabolism, and B1 deficiency is thought to give rise to polyneuropathies. A group of male Wistar rats (n = 15) received a vitamin B1 deficient diet (group-a), and the pair fed control group (n = 20, group-b) received a normal diet with no vitamin deficiency. A second control group (group-c) was fed unrestrictedly with a standard diet (n = 19). All animals were examined for 25 weeks. The sensory nerve conduction velocity, the compound radicular, spinal and brain stem responses and the SEP were derived for tail and hind paw stimulation. The examination was repeated at 6-week intervals. There was no difference in nerve conduction between group-a and -b, but for both groups the conduction velocity was significantly slower than in group-c. The SEP latencies were significantly increased in group-a compared with group-b and also with group-c. The spinal and cerebral latencies were delayed in group-a. The diameters of myelinated nerve fibres were decreased in group-a compared with group-b, and in group-b compared with group-c. The results indicate that a specific polyneuropathy exists as a result of B1 deficiency, and that the sequelae of the lack of thiamine are pronounced in the CNS.

Metabolic and Structural Role of Thiamine in Nervous Tissues

“…The consequence is the significant reduction of nervous conduction speed (Goldberg et al 2004), Cell Mol Neurobiol (2008 followed by the blocking of the nervous fiber action potential by the pyrithiamine, an antagonist of the thiamine (Goldberg and Cooper 1975). Thiamine deficiency should provoke further disturbances in nervous electrical activities by the alteration of myelinogenesis (Trostler et al 1977;Reddy and Ramakrishnan 1982), resulting in reduction of the diameter of myelinic fibers (Claus et al 1985).…”

Lower limb neuropathy after spinal anesthesia in a patient with latent thiamine deficiency

“…Thiamine is of crucial importance in the synthesis of acetyl-coenzyme A, as well as in connecting the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins with the citric acid cycle [1] (Fig. 1).…”

“…It is also essential for central nervous system glucose metabolism [1]. Thiamine deficiency may cause peripheral neuropathy (beriberi), encephalopathy, and heart failure (Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome) (Table 1).…”

Delayed auditory brainstem response in thiamin-deficient rats.

“…Claus et al (3) stated that the peripheral nerve changes in rats fed a thia min-deficient diet were a consequence of undernourishment, since the sensory nerve conduction velocity was slower in both rats fed a thiamin-deficient diet and pair-fed controls than in normal controls. However, we found that the latency of wave I was not increased in starved rats compared with control rats.…”