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Thiamine and Pyridoxine Lack in Newly-Admitted Psychiatric Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

M. W. P. Carney ,
D. G. Williams  and
B. F. Sheffield
M. W. P. Carney
Affiliation:
Northwick Park and Shenley Hospitals
D. G. Williams
Affiliation:
Division of Clinical Chemistry, Northwick Park Hospital and Clinical Research Centre
B. F. Sheffield
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of South Manchester
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Summary

One hundred and fifty four patients admitted to a general hospital psychiatric unit with a history of poor diet were examined. Serum pyruvate was estimated in all, red cell transketolase in 74 and red cell aspartate transaminase in 66. Significantly more of the 58 abnormally low thiamine patients than of the normal thiamine group showed clinical signs of malnutrition or were diagnosed as chronic alcoholics, drug addicts, schizophrenics or endogenous depressives. Significantly more endogenous depressives than other patients had a raised aspartate transaminase activity coefficient (pyridoxine lack.) While most low thiamine findings are probably manifestations of malnutrition pyridoxine lack may have some aetiological significance in endogenous depression.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 135 , Issue 3 , September 1979 , pp. 249 - 254
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1979 

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