Peripheral Neuropathy of the Alcoholic: I, Aetiological Role of Aneurin and Other B-complex Vitamins

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Circulating B-complex vitamins were measured in alcoholic patients with and without peripheral neuropathy and results compared with values obtained in healthy control subjects. Eighty-six% of alcoholics with peripheral neuro-pathy had a significant decrease in circulating aneurin. A concomitant decrease in circulating riboflavin, nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B6 complex, folic acid, and/or vitamin B12 was present in 90% of this group. A reduction in circulating aneurin and other B-complex vitamins was present in 44% of alcoholics without neuro-pathy. The mean level of circulating B-complex vitamins was signifi-cantly lower in alcoholics with neuropathy than in those without this sign. Hypovitaminemia showed no correlation with ethanol consump tion, but was directly related to previous dietary habits. Replacement of deficient aneurin was associated with improvement in 8 out of 13 patients with grade I neuropathy, in 4 out of 8 with grade II neuropathy, and in 4 out of 8 with grade HI neuropathy. Of the patients with grade I and II neuropathy who were refractory to aneurin, 2 responded to addition of nicotinic acid, 1 to pantothenic acid, and 1 to pyridoxine. Refractoriness to all measures occurred in 7 patients with grade II and HI neuropathy, 6 of whom had severe liver disease.

This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit: