Biochemical assessment of thiamine status in adult Australians
Wood, B.; Penington, D.G.
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research. Internationale Zeitschrift für Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal International de Vitaminologie et de Nutrition 43(1): 12-19
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9831 PMID: 4696817 Document Number: 61907
Erythrocyte transketolase activity and its enhancement by added thiamin pyrophosphate in vitro, the TPP effect, were estimated in blood from 84 blood donors 19 to 63 years old and from 12 medical laboratory personnel 20 to 40 years old in Melbourne. In the blood donors transketolase activity was 87.5 units before and 100 units after thiamin pyrophosphate was added. Initially, activity was slightly but not significantly higher in the medical personnel, although values after TPP was added were similar. The mean TPP effect in the blood donors was 15.0% and in the laboratory personnel 8.2%, a significant difference. There was no relation between erythrocyte transketolase activity or TPP effect and age or sex in either group.It was considered that the results might indicate a widespread mild thiamin deficiency in the Australian population.