In Thiamine deficiency & chronic alcoholics

 High-dose thiamine (≥500 mg) appears safe and efficacious for use in patients with
suspected WE.

 Pre-emptive treatment for Hepatic encephalopathy and Wernicke encephalopathy (Vit .B1
IV 200mg)

Zhao et al. Medicine (2016) 95:27

 Safe for use even in higher doses relative to traditional delirium tremens prophylactic dosing
(100 mg/day thiamine).

In Vivo. 2017 Jan-Feb; 31(1): 121–124.

PUNCHLINE:

THE MOST ABSORBABLE FORM OF THIAMINE

Prolonged and frequent consumption of alcohol causes a decreased ability to absorb thiamine in
the duodenum

Alcoholism is the most frequent cause of TD in Western countries and the prevalence of WKS is 8–10
times higher in alcoholics than in the general population (12.5 and 0.8%, respectively) (Reuler et al.,
1985).

In alcoholics, the oral absorption of thiamine is extremely variable, with some patients showing
little or even no absorption 

80% of alcoholics develop TD as the likely consequence of inadequate nutritional intake,

reduced absorption and impaired utilization of thiamine 

 thiamine deficiency