Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Whole Blood

Overview:

Thiamine is required for the reactions that release energy from carbohydrate, which makes the brain and heart, both heavy energy users, particularly vulnerable when it is short. The body stores relatively little, so deficiency can develop within weeks. It is most associated with chronic alcohol use, but also occurs with malnutrition, prolonged vomiting, bariatric surgery and some diuretic treatment. Severe deficiency causes beriberi, affecting the nerves or the heart, and Wernicke's encephalopathy, a neurological emergency. Measuring it in whole blood rather than serum better reflects status, since most thiamine is inside red cells.

Categories:

Vitamins & Nutrients

Biomarkers:

1 biomarker