The B-vitamins in malnutrition with alcoholism

Abstract

1. The B-vitamin status of fifty-nine patients, mainly from the lower socio-economic classes in Bombay, with a history of chronic malnutrition, and of alcoholism of 1-5-20 years' duration, was studied before and during treatment, and in relation to their clinical, especially neurological, condition. These patients were divided into two neurological categories: (I) those with peripheral neuropathy (mainly sensory and distal) alone, (2) those with mental changes (mainly confusion and disorientation) also. Both categories frequently showed pellagrous pigmentation and mucocutaneous signs of B-vitamin deficiency. 2. Thiamin and erythrocyte transketolase (EC 2.2.1.1) activity, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, total and pyridoxal fraction of vitamin B6, folate and total vitamin B12 were estimated in the blood and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of these patients, and also in the blood of sixty-nine control subjects and in the CSF of some of them. The concentrations of all the vitamins, except vitamin B12, were highly significantly lower in the blood of patients of category I compared to the controls, and erythrocyte transketolase activity and pyridoxal concentration in patients of category 2 were significantly lower than those of category I patients. Blood pantothenic acid and folate concentrations were reduced less consistently. 3. Serum vitamin B12 concentration was significantly increased (though within normal range) in the patients compared to the control group, probably because of the moderate hepatic insufficiency (as assessed by liver function tests) in the former. 4. The concentrations of thiamin, riboflavin, nicotinic acid and total vitamin B6 were also highly significantly lower in the CSF in patients of category I compared with controls. Furthermore, thiamin, nicotinic acid and total vitamin B6 concentrations were significantly lower in patients of category 2 than those of category I patients, indicating that CSF levels reflect better the neurological status of these patients. 5. There was a moderate increase in the blood concentration of all the vitamins tested, after a relatively poor hospital diet alone. There was a concurrent increase in the blood levels of thiamin, riboflavin, nicotinic acid and pantothenic acid after parenteral treatment with either thiamin or nicotinic acid. The administration of pyridoxine resulted in a significant increase in the blood levels of riboflavin and the pyridoxal fraction of vitamin B6.

Effect of Prolonged Anticonvulsant Medication in Epileptic Patients: Serum Lipids, Vitamins B6, B12, and Folic Acid, Proteins, and Fine Structure of Liver

“…The mean serum folate concentration (2.4 ng/ml) was highly significantly lowered (p < 0.001) in patients ( Table I). The mean CSF value for folic acid was 10.03 ng/ml, which appeared to be at the lower limit of the Table 1 are from Dastur et al 1975b and1976. ) .so = 3 0 normal range of 10-30 ng/ml according to Sobotka et al (1960).…”

“…These two categories of subjects had served as controls in our studies on other aspects of B vitamin disorders, especially malnutrition-alcoholism (Dastur et al, 1976) and vitamin B,, deficiency-neuromyelopathy (Dastur et al, 19756).…”

Mechanisms underlying the differential effects of ethanol on the bioavailability of riboflavin and flavin adenine dinucleotide.

“…Lack of riboflavin in alcoholics has usually been observed in association with deficiencies of other nutrients (1,3,(24)(25)(26), perhaps because a diet poor in one nutrient is generally poor in others. Furthermore, since riboflavin is involved in the metabolic transformations of folic acid (27,28), pyridoxine (29,30), vitamin K (31), and niacin (32), decreased dietary intake of riboflavin would also increase the likelihood of developing either secondary deficiencies or alterations in metabolism of these vitamins.…”

Alcohol: Its Role in Nutrition and Health

“…A defi ciency in niacin (vitamin B 3 ) is often found in the setting of chronic excessive alcohol consumption, usually together with defi ciencies of other B -complex vitamins (Dastur et al , 1976 ) and other nutrients such as zinc. The prevalence of low plasma niacin levels in chronic alcohol consumers varies widely, probably because niacin can be obtained preformed from food and from synthesis in the liver from tryptophan.…”