Obese individuals as thiamin storers

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To investigate thiamin and its phosphoester content in plasma and erythrocytes for a complete picture of thiamin status in obese individuals. DESIGN: Comparative study of the thiamin status of obese vs normal individuals. SUBJECTS: In all, 10 healthy, overweight, fertile age women (age: 33.175.1 y; BMI: 47.070.2 kg/m 2 ) and 10 normal women (age: 30.173.5 y; BMI: 22.870.2 kg/m 2 ). METHODS: a high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the determination of thiamin and its phosphoesters in the plasma and erythrocytes of the subjects. RESULTS: The major findings were: (1) significant decrease of plasma thiamin, its monophosphate and total thiamin contents in obese vs normal women; (2) significant decrease of thiamin pyrophosphate ester and total thiamin content in obese vs normal women; (3) significant increase in plasma thiamin/thiamin monophosphate ratio (in practice, it was inverted) and corresponding decrease of the plasma thiamin monophosphate/erythrocytes thiamin pyrophosphate ratio in obese vs normal women, where plasma thiamin monophosphate and erythrocytes thiamin pyrophosphate contents are an index of thiamin status. CONCLUSIONS: This study advances the hypothesis that obese women maintain higher levels of thiamin compared to normal weight subjects by storing greater amounts of thiamin in cells through preferential intracellular thiamin recycling to compensate for relatively lower levels of thiamin.

Impact of micronutrient deficiencies on obesity

“…Thiamine deficiency has been observed in obese patients in two studies 80,85 . The study by Patrini et al 85 . also found that obese women had higher thiamine stored in cells and low circulating concentrations.…”

“…The B vitamin that is deficient varies among studies. Thiamine deficiency has been observed in obese patients in two studies 80,85 . The study by Patrini et al 85 .…”

“…The relationship between the B vitamins and obesity is not clear. A number of studies have found that overweight and obese adults have low blood concentrations of thiamine, vitamins B 6 , B 12 , and folic acid 2,80–88 (Table 4). The B vitamin that is deficient varies among studies.…”

Prevention of Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies After Bariatric Surgery: Evidence and Algorithms

“…The bioavailability of thiamin (vitamin B 1 ) is difficult to interpret, as it depends on a variable renal clearance and erythrocyte storage capacity [10,11]. Furthermore, highperformance liquid chromatography technology is needed to determine thiamine monophosphate, which is the most active metabolite [12].…”

Changes in thiamin intake and blood levels in young, overweight/obese women following hypocaloric diets based on the increased relative consumption of cereals or vegetables

“…One reason for a poor thiamin status may be longterm low dietary intakes associated with poor dietary choices or reduced energy intake (van der Beek et al, 1994). Some studies also show that thiamin status can be impaired in obese persons (Patrini et al, 2004), especially if they suffer deficiencies in other nutrients (Turkki et al, 1992).…”