Deficiency of thiamine rarely occurs in the modern world but a dramatic example

Question

Deficiency of thiamine rarely occurs in the modern world but a dramatic example of it was reported several years ago in a European country, in which infant formula had been inadvertently supplemented with only a tenth of the required amount. Discuss why this error was fatal to the infants consuming only this formula. Specify enzymes, reactions and overall pathways that would be affected. Exemplify a reaction by drawing structures of a substrate to product conversion dependent on the metabolically active form of thiamine, and an electron-pushing mechanism illustrating a key step in which it is critical. Describe the immediate and longer term consequences of the deficiency, speculating on the tissue(s) most affected.

Explanation / Answer

4. Thiamine (vitamin B1) is mainly involved in the synthesis RNA, DNA and nerve functioning. This vitamin is actively involved in the metabolic conversion of glucose into energy.

Deficiency of thiamine causes beriberi (impaired sensory perception, muscle pains, mental confusion, vomiting), polyneuropathy, heart failure may also occur with severe deficiency. Infants suffering from thiamine deficiency suffer from constipation, occasional vomiting, crying and restlessness. Death may occur if left untreated due to metabolic coma. Depend upon the severenrity of deficiency, the symptoms including dyspnoea, cardiac disturbances, oligurea and edema may also presemnt.

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