Aetiology
Other specified vitamin B1 deficiency is caused by inadequate dietary intake of vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, or by increased demand due to increased metabolic activity. Other causes include gastrointestinal malabsorption, alcohol consumption, and certain pharmaceuticals, as well as decreased bioavailability due to genetic variants.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and symptoms, as well as laboratory tests such as vitamin B1 blood levels, erythrocyte transketolase activity, and thiamine pyrophosphate effect.
Differential diagnosis
Other causes of vitamin B1 deficiency include diseases that impair the absorption of dietary thiamine, such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and tropical sprue. Alcoholism can also lead to vitamin B1 deficiency.
Treatment
Treatment of other specified vitamin B1 deficiency includes increasing dietary intake of thiamine and/or supplementing with thiamine in the form of tablets or injections.
Prognosis
With adequate treatment, other specified vitamin B1 deficiency is usually reversible and the prognosis is good. However, long-term complications such as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome may occur if treatment is delayed.