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Vitamin B1
(a.k.a Thiamine, thiamine pyrophosphate)
minimum sample volume required ~ 4ml
Tube type: EDTA
Other acceptable tube types
Lithium heparin (green)
Special instructions
Protect sample from light.
Sent away
to St Thomas' Hospital, London
Reference range
66.5 - 200
Units
nmol/L
Turnaround Time
17
days
Department: Biochemistry
Clinical Application
Vitamin B1 is classed as a water soluble vitamin. Thiamine diphosphate (TDP) is the most abundant physiological form and the best available marker of thiamine status. Vitamin B1 can be found at high concentrations in wholegrain foods, pork, liver, nuts, and pulses.
Vitamin B1 is a cofactor for certain enzymes required for the oxidative degradation of sugars and the mitochondrial synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of cells. Vitamin B1 is also required for biosynthesis of acetylcholine and lipids necessary for a healthy nervous system.
Vitamin B1 deficiency was classically seen in populations where polished rice was the staple diet, resulting in the disease known as beriberi. In individuals with high alcohol consumption, vitamin B1 deficiency gives rise to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which can result in encephalopathy and death.
Symptoms of vitamin B1 deficiency include muscle weakness, neuropathy and cardiovascular abnormalities. As these symptoms are non-specific, risk factors such as alcohol dependence, malabsorption or a diet low in thiamine should raise suspicion of the diagnosis. In these situations, presumptive treatment should be commenced immediately and not be dependent on the results of laboratory testing.
Webpage updated: December 2024
