Vitamin B1 Intake in Multiple Sclerosis Patients and its Impact on Depression Presence: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Vitamin B1, or thiamine, is one of the most relevant vitamins in obtaining energy for the nervous system. Thiamine deficiency or lack of activity causes neurological manifestations, especially symptoms of depression, intrinsic to multiple sclerosis (MS) and related to its pathogenesis. On this basis, the aim of this study was to determine the possible relationship between the nutritional habits of patients with MS and the presence of depression. Therefore, a cross-sectional and observational descriptive study was conducted. An analysis of dietary habits and vitamin B1 consumption in a Spanish population of 51 MS patients was performed by recording the frequency of food consumption. Results showed a vitamin B1 intake within the established range, mainly provided by the consumption of ultra-processed products such as cold meats or pastries, and a total carbohydrate consumption lower than recommended, which stands out for its high content of simple carbohydrates deriving from processed foods such as dairy desserts, juice, snacks, pastries, chocolate bars, soft drinks and fermented alcohol. In addition, a significant negative correlation between depression and the intake of thiamine and total carbohydrates was observed. These findings could explain the influence of MS patients’ eating habits, and consequently vitamin B1 activity, on depression levels.

MS‐Driven Metabolic Alterations Are Recapitulated in iPSC‐Derived Astrocytes

“…Additionally, thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency was described to induce neurologic manifestations in PwMS, mainly related with depressive behavior. 49 Finally, we acknowledge the limitations of using fetal bovine serum (FBS) during the astrocyte differentiation protocol, even in low concentrations, as it impacts mainly the inflammatory phenotype of these cells over time, as previously published. 31 Although several studies have used FBS to differentiate astrocytes from iPSCs, aiming to minimize the formation of neurons, 10,50 future studies focusing on astrocyte responses to inflammation using iPSC-based models of MS should consider the possibility of using serum-free differentiation protocols to reduce this bias and resemble in vivo models.…”

“…Beyond its canonical role in inhibiting lymphocyte trafficking to the CNS, this drug induced an anti‐inflammatory phenotype in human astrocytes, 48 suggesting that part of the effects of fingolimod may rely on the modulation of astrocyte functions in PwMS, which should be further investigated. Additionally, thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency was described to induce neurologic manifestations in PwMS, mainly related with depressive behavior 49 …”

MS-driven metabolic alterations are recapitulated in iPSC-derived astrocytes

“…Specifically in MS, sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor is a therapeutic target of the widely used medication fingolimod, which is approved for the treatment of PwMS, and it has been demonstrated that beyond its canonical role in inhibiting lymphocyte trafficking to the CNS, this drug induced an antiinflammatory phenotype in human astrocytes 41 , suggesting that part of the effects of fingolimod may rely on the modulation of astrocyte functions in PwMS, which should be further investigated. Additionally, thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency was described to induce neurologic manifestations in PwMS, mainly related with depressive behavior 42 .…”

Macronutrients, vitamins and minerals in the diet of multiple sclerosis patients

“…In one of the pilot studies on vitamin B 1 consumption in patients with multiple sclerosis, patients who consumed fewer total carbohydrates and mainly simple carbohydrates showed a higher level of depression, which is characteristic of MS [ 47 ]. A lower total carbohydrate intake than recommended can interfere with vitamin B 1 activity because its function is to metabolize carbohydrates to obtain glucose as a source of neuronal energy [ 48 ].…”

“…Deficiency or lack of thiamine activity (vitamin B 1 ) causes neurological symptoms, especially symptoms of depression, inherent in multiple sclerosis and related to its pathogenesis. In a pilot study by Orti et al ., a significant negative correlation was found between depression and thiamine consumption [ 47 ]. The dietary intake associated with thiamine activity in the MS patient population exhibits an imbalance characterized by a lower recommended total carbohydrate intake, which consists mainly of simple carbohydrates.…”