An evaluation of a modified erythrocyte transketolase assay for assessing thiamine nutritional adequacy.

Abstract
Transketolase (TK) activity was assessed by incubating hemolyzed whole blood with ribose-5-phosphate in the presence (TKsat.) and in the absence (TK) of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP). The amount of pentoses utilized between 5 and 60 min after the start of the incubation was taken as a measure of the TK activity. The TPP effect was expressed as (TKsat.-TK)/TK .times. 100. The coefficient of variation for the TPP effect determination was 9.6% within the TPP effect range from 6-22%. Within the TPP effect range from 24-46%, the coefficient of variation was 8.7%. The mean TPP effect as measured in a group of healthy individuals amounted to 13.5%, with a range from 8.3 to 18.5%. In a group of obese women subumitted to an energy-restricted diet, the TPP effect ranged from 12.7 to 30%. In patients suffering from Wernicke''s encephalopathy, the TPP effect varied from 28 to 67%.

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