Modeling thiamine fortification: a case study from Kuria atoll, Republic of Kiribati

Thiamine deficiency disorders in women and children

Thiamine (vitamin B1) is available in common foods such as the outer husk of rice and is necessary for normal cardiovascular, neurological and metabolic processes. Thiamine deficiency is common in many parts of Asia and Africa, affecting up to a third or more of children and women of child-bearing age. The diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion, especially when noting heart failure in infants, encephalopathy in patients of any age, and peripheral neuropathy in older children and adults. Blood tests for whole-blood thiamine diphosphate (the quantity of biologically active thiamine present) and erythrocyte transketolase activity (the functional impact of thiamine) are not always readily available in areas where thiamine deficiency is common. Treatment is safe and effective, although dosing guidelines vary widely; 50 mg daily for 5 days is probably effective for treating acute thiamine deficiency disorders, and ongoing adequate thiamine intake is also needed. Prevention efforts depend on local and regional circumstances, including dietary diversification, food fortification, and/or supplementation of children and women at risk.Abbreviations: HIC: high-income countries; LMIC: low- and middle-income countries; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; TDD: thiamine deficiency disorders.

Thiamine deficiency in pregnancy and lactation: implications and present perspectives

During pregnancy, many physiologic changes occur in order to accommodate fetal growth. These changes require an increase in many of the nutritional needs to prevent long-term consequences for both mother and the offspring. One of the main vitamins that are needed throughout the pregnancy is thiamine (vitamin B1) which is a water-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in many metabolic and physiologic processes in the human body. Thiamine deficiency during pregnancy can cause can have many cardiac, neurologic, and psychological effects on the mother. It can also dispose the fetus to gastrointestinal, pulmonological, cardiac, and neurologic conditions. This paper reviews the recently published literature about thiamine and its physiologic roles, thiamine deficiency in pregnancy, its prevalence, its impact on infants and subsequent consequences in them. This review also highlights the knowledge gaps within these topics.

A fresh look at thiamine deficiency-new analyses by the global thiamine alliance

Severe thiamine (vitamin B₁ ) deficiency is generally regarded as a problem affecting mostly infants in low-income communities of Southeast Asia and adult alcoholics regardless of their location. However, recent scholarship shows that the disorders associated with thiamine deficiency may also affect heretofore unsuspected populations, and that the scope of disorders, including some long-lasting neurocognitive consequences, is broader than previously thought.