The role of thiamine as a resuscitator in patients with nonalcoholic medical and CNS disorders

Abstract

Thiamine (vitamin B1), a water-soluble vitamin, is an essential factor in cellular metabolism and fundamental cofactor in important biochemical cycles. Thiamine deficiency is a wellknown cause of neurological and cardiologic disorders, especially in patients with alcohol dependence. Recently, several researchers have studied the role of thiamine deficiency in critically ill patients and the link between thiamine supplementation and changes in lactate levels in septic shock patients. The role of thiamine in this group of patients is still unclear; however, thiamine supplementation does not cause toxic side effects or increase morbidity or mortality. In this review, we discuss the most common conditions associated with thiamine deficiency and the limited literature available on thiamine supplementation in critically ill patients.

Keywords

• thiamine
• sepsis
• Wernicke encephalopathy
• congestive heart failure