Thiamine, Riboflavin and Pyridoxine Deficiency in Psychiatric In-Patients

Abstract

One hundred and seventy-two successive admissions to a district general hospital psychiatric unit were examined. Routine psychiatric, drug and dietary histories were taken and signs of avitaminosis B specifically noted. Red cell transketolase (for thiamine deficiency), glutathione reductase (for riboflavin deficiency) and aspartate transaminase (for pyridoxine deficiency) were measured. Of the patients, 53 per cent were deficient in at least one vitamin, 12 per cent in more than one (30 per cent in thiamine, 27 per cent in riboflavin and 9 per cent in pyridoxine). Schizophrenics and alcoholics were significantly over-represent in those patients low in thiamine and in more than one vitamin. Patients with an affective disorder had low riboflavin and low pyridoxine. It is suggested that affective changes are characteristic of riboflavin and pyridoxine deficiency.

Fundamental Role of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase 677 C → T Genotype and Flavin Compounds in Biochemical Phenotypes for Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Psychosis

“…Another explanation for the predominance of NA in this study, may also relate to animal study reports of intraluminal gastrointestinal bacteria, such as Escherichia coli , being a source of NA catecholamine (39). This imputed finding of FMN–FAD deficiency in relationship to MAO (40) and associated elevated catecholamines concur with multiple previous literature reports of riboflavin deficiency and MAO inhibition in behavior disorders, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder (12, 41–43). …”

“…Antipsychotic medication remained stable during the assessment period and DSM IV-R criteria (12) case diagnoses were made by trained staff and checked by consensus opinion and DSM IV-R symptom-checklist. Patients and controls were rated for clinical and subclinical symptoms, respectively, and had biological samples taken prior to auditory and visual processing assessments.…”

Thiamin Contents of Cerebrospinal Fluid, Plasma and Erythrocytes in Cerebellar Ataxias

“…Langhor et al [1981] reported that 4 patients with cere bellar ataxia were overtly thiamin or riboflavin deficient, while 32 out of 43 cases with chronic alcohol abuse had signs of thiamin deficiency showing in a large percentage of cases (81 %) the symptoms of cerebellar and/or brain stem lesions. Thiamin deficiency, probably due to nutri tional deprivation, has also been observed in 30% of 172 psychiatric patients, mostly schizophrenics and/or alco holics [Carney et al, 1976], Recently, thiamin abnormal ity has also been suggested Gibson et al. 1988;Sheu et al.…”

An Integrative Approach to Depression: Part 2—Assessment and Treatment

“…This is diagnosable with a serological test and curable with a course of antibiotics. Aggressive diagnosis and treatment of other low-grade diseases such as allergic conditions (Sugarman, Southern, & Curran, 1982), subclinical hypothyroidism (Lasser & Baldessarini, 1997), hypochlorhydria (Cater, 1992), fructose malabsorption (Ledochowski, Widner, Bair, Probst, & Fuchs, 2000), nutrient deficiencies (Carney, Ravindran, Rinsler, & Williams, 1982), and mild heavy metal poisoning (Balestra, 1991) have yielded results in otherwise intractable cases of depression.…”