Prevalence of Biochemical Thiamine Deficiency in a Non-large Urban Population of Individuals with Obesity: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Previous studies of individuals with obesity in large urban populations identified biochemical or clinical thiamine deficiency in 15.5% to 29% of individuals. The prevalence of biochemical thiamine deficiency in a non-large urban, obese population is not well defined.

Methods: Consecutive patients with obesity (n=400) had been seen in gastroenterology clinic. Individuals (n=23) are excluded from this study because of specific diagnoses. Whole blood thiamine was completed in 130 individuals who had complaints of dysphagia, nausea & vomiting, constipation, abdominal distension, or symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.

Results: Men comprised 84% of the 130 subjects with 83% identified as white men and 17% as black men. There were 64 individuals (49%) with type 2 diabetes. Four individuals (3%) have biochemical thiamine deficiency of whom two (50%) have type 2 diabetes. Two thiamine deficient individuals have dysphagia as a complaint, one has nausea/vomiting, and one has peripheral neuropathy.

Conclusions: Despite the high percentage of individuals with type 2 diabetes and enrollment of patients with symptoms consistent with thiamine deficiency, there was a low prevalence of biochemical thiamine deficiency in individuals with obesity in this non-large urban population. Potential explanations for this result may include dietary thiamine intake differences, a higher rate of thiamine supplementation, or lower body mass index. A whole blood thiamine level is unlikely to be useful when screening for thiamine deficiency, but supplemental thiamine may be helpful in determining whether a patient with a suggestive gastrointestinal symptom has thiamine deficiency.