Biochemical detection of thiamin deficiency in infants and children in Thailand

Abstract

Erythrocyte transketolase activity and the effect of thiamine pyrophosphate stimulation were determined for 134 infants and children in Thailand. This study included 87 apparently healthy infants and children, 36 sick infants and children admitted to pediatric wards, 8 patients with malnutrition, and 3 patients with clinical beriberi. All 3 patients with clinical beriberi had definitely abnormal values for thiamine pyrophosphate stimulation. In addition, 10 to 17% of the subjects in each of the other groups had biochemical evidence of thiamine deficiency, although there was no clinical evidence of beriberi. Measurement of thiamine pyrophosphate stimulation appears to be more specific than measurement of erythrocyte transketolase activity in confirming the diagnosis of beriberi. Possible reasons for the high prevalence of thiamine deficiency in Thai infants and children are discussed.