Hernandez, Jetlee Oliver P.

Section D1- Group 7

Quiz on Vitamins (Part 2)

1. Enumerate the major manifestations of Vitamin B-1 deficiency and correlate these with the
pathways where vitamin B-1 is involved.
a. Severe Muscle Weakness
In terms of ATP Production, you will only have 7 or 9 instead of 32 or 34 ATPs. You lost 25
ATPs and this is manifested by severe muscle weakness. This is because Pyruvate cannot be
converted Acetyl CoA, Glucose cannot undergo complete oxidation thus resulting to less
productions of ATPs. Severe Muscle Weakness does not only affect the skeletal muscle, but
also the cardiac muscles, so it is possible to have cardiac failure with Beriberi (disease that you
get when you have thiamine deficiency).
b. Lactic Acidosis
If there will be no TPP, Pyruvate cannot be converted to Acetyl CoA and will be channelled to
the production of Lactate leading to Lactic Acidosis.
c. Pentosemia with Pentosuria
Transketolation cannot take place once Vit. B1 is deficient, as we all know transketolase is
only active if there is thiamine, so if there is a thiamine deficiency, there will be no transfer of
carbons. Ribos and Xylulose will accumulate, and because these are Pentoses, there will be
Pentosemia. Accumulation of pentoses in the blood that will spill out in the urine, so you will also
have Pentosuria.
d. Neurological Manifestations
Metabolism of nerve tissues become abnormal so you will have Neurological Manifestations,
usually this manifestation will start as Tingling Sensation. This can progress to Numbness and
then to Paralysis (if left untreated).
2. What vitamin deficiencies can cause glossitis, stomatitis, and dermatitis? Explain the
mechanism behind each.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) and Vitamin B3 (Niacin), epithelial changes in the oral cavity such as
cheiloses/ perleche or angular stomatitis these are fissures at the angles of the mouth whereas
uncomplicated angular stomatitis are fissures only. Complicated Angular Stomatitis, with
bacterial formation and pus formation. Glossitis or Magenta Tongue, this is due to inflammation
in the tongue and assumes a magenta color. Acute Glossitis, very red tongue. Chronic Glossitis,
hardening of tongue, no more sense of taste. Seborrheic Dermatitis, scaly lesions around the
nose and the mouth. For the 3 D’s of Niacin Deficiency, Dermatitis, Diarrhea and Dementia. The
dermatitis here affects those areas of the body exposed to sunlight. There is pigmentation and
thickening of the skin. Stomatitis or the inability to digest food, magenta tongue.
References: Harper’s Biochemistry, Biochemistry Manual (2020)