Thiamine deficiency - Beriberi – A forgotten disease

Authors

  • Mahmuda Hassan Prof. of paediatrics, Ad-din Women’s Medical College, Dhaka
  • Hamidur Rahman Prof. and head, Dept. of Paediatrics Ad-din Women’s Medical College, Dhaka
  • BH Nazma Yasmeen Prof. and head, Dept. of Paediatrics, Nothern International Medical College, Dhaka
  • Afsana Mukti Assistant Professor, Dept. of Paediatrics, Ad-din Women’s Medical College, Dhaka
  • Hakimul Haque Associate Professor, Basundhara Ad-din Medical College, Dhaka
  • Masuma Khan Assistant Professor, Dept. of Paediatrics, Ad-din Women’s Medical College, Dhaka
  • Marium Begum Associate Professor, Basundhara Ad-din Medical College, Dhaka
  • Sudipta Roy Assistant Professor, Dept. of Paediatrics, Ad-din Women’s Medical College, Dhaka
  • Taslim Uddin Ahmed Dept. of Paediatrics, Ad-din Women’s Medical College, Dhaka
  • Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Dept. of Paediatrics, Ad-din Women’s Medical College, Dhaka
  • Sadia Tabassum Asstt. Registrar of Paediatrics, Shahid Sarwardi Medical College Hopspital, Dhaka
  • ARM Luthful Kabir Dept. of Paediatrics, Ad-din Women’s Medical College, Dhaka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/nimcj.v10i1.39331

Keywords:

Thiamine, Vitamin B1, Beriberi, Cardiomyopathy, Neuropathy, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

Abstract

Thiamine (vitamin B1) was the first B vitamin which has been identified. It serves as a cofactor for several enzymes involved in energy metabolism. The thiamine-dependent enzymes are important for the biosynthesis of neurotransmitters and for the production of reducing substances used in oxidant stress defenses, as well as for the synthesis of pentose used as nucleic acid precursors. Thiamine also plays a central role in cerebral metabolism. There are 2 major manifestations of thiamine deficiency(TD): cardiovascular disease (wet beriberi) and nervous system disease (dry beriberi and Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome). In wet beriberi, cardiomyopathy with edema and lactic acidosis and in dry beriberi, peripheral neuropathy occurs. Manifestations of Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome, consist of nystagmus, ophthalmoplegia and ataxia evolving into confusion, retrograde amnesia, cognitive impairment and confabulation. Thiamine deficiency is now very rare in developed countries, but still common in South East Asia specially in developing countries like Bangladesh. It is an important public health problem with potentially fatal consequences. Now a days highly polished rice (Minicut rice) is a popular staple food and other primary dietary sources of thiamine are in short supply. In wet beriberi myocardial disease is prominent which causes a high cardiac output with peripheral vasodilation and warm extremities. Before heart failure, tachycardia, a wide pulse pressure, sweating, warm skin and lactic acidosis develop leading to salt and water retention by the kidneys. The resulting fluid overload leads to edema of the dependent extremities. If it is left untreated the severity of potential outcome will be increased even up to death. Therefore, makes it essential for physician, cardiologists and Paediatrician to have an understanding of this condition and its optimal treatment. Patients on a strict thiamine-deficient diet display a state of severe depletion within 18 days. The most common cause of thiamine deficiency in affluent countries is either alcoholism or malnutrition in nonalcoholic patients especially in children. Treatment by thiamine supplementation is beneficial for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Northern International Medical College Journal Vol.10(1) Jul 2018: 351-354

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
1311
PDF
980

Author Biographies

Afsana Mukti, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Paediatrics, Ad-din Women’s Medical College, Dhaka

Dept. of Paediatrics

Masuma Khan, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Paediatrics, Ad-din Women’s Medical College, Dhaka

Dept. of Paediatrics

Sudipta Roy, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Paediatrics, Ad-din Women’s Medical College, Dhaka

Dept. of Paediatrics

Taslim Uddin Ahmed, Dept. of Paediatrics, Ad-din Women’s Medical College, Dhaka

Dept. of Paediatrics

Ashraf Uddin Ahmed, Dept. of Paediatrics, Ad-din Women’s Medical College, Dhaka

Dept. of Paediatrics

ARM Luthful Kabir, Dept. of Paediatrics, Ad-din Women’s Medical College, Dhaka

Dept. of Paediatrics

Downloads

Published

2018-12-20

How to Cite

Hassan, M., Rahman, H., Yasmeen, B. N., Mukti, A., Haque, H., Khan, M., Begum, M., Roy, S., Ahmed, T. U., Ahmed, A. U., Tabassum, S., & Kabir, A. L. (2018). Thiamine deficiency - Beriberi – A forgotten disease. Northern International Medical College Journal, 10(1), 351–354. https://doi.org/10.3329/nimcj.v10i1.39331

Issue

Section

Review Articles