Biochemical detection of thiamin deficiency in infants and children in Thailand

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Abstract
Erythrocyte transketolase activity and the effect of thiamin pyrophosphate stimulation have been 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 three patients with clinical beriberi had definitely abnormal values for thiamin pyrophosphate stimulation. In addition, 10–17% of the subjects in each of the other groups had biochemical evidence of thiamin deficiency, although there was no clinical evidence of beriberi. Measurement of thiamine pyrophosphate stimulation appears to be more specific than measurement of erythrocyte transkitolase activity in confirming the diagnosis of beriberi. Possible reasons for the high prevalence of thiamin deficiency in Thai infants and children are discussed.

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