title: Thiamine status of healthy and institutionalized elderly subjects: analysis of dietary intake and biochemical indices.
abstract: Thiamine status was assessed in healthy young and elderly subjects and institutionalized elderly patients by measuring dietary intake, erythrocyte levels of thiamine and the activity of the thiamine-dependent enzyme, erythrocyte transketolase, with and without the addition of excess thiamine pyrophosphate (the TPP effect). Healthy elderly subjects had a reduced intake of thiamine compared with the younger subjects but erythrocyte levels of thiamine and the TPP effect were comparable, suggesting adequate thiamine status. The institutionalized elderly patients had a low intake of thiamine compared with the healthy elderly as well as abnormal biochemical indices suggestive of suboptimal thiamine status. Thiamine deficiency does not appear to be a problem in healthy elderly people but those in institutions are at risk of deficiency which might adversely affect their clinical state.
authors: University Department of Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Southampton General Hospital, Hants.
authors: N P
authors: NP
authors: O'Rourke
authors: V W
authors: VW
authors: Bunker
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Thomas
authors: P M
authors: PM
authors: Finglas
authors: A L
authors: AL
authors: Bailey
authors: B E
authors: BE
authors: Clayton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004032:Diet; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013831:Thiamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D013835:Thiamine Pyrophosphate / Q000097:blood; D014174:Transketolase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014174:Transketolase; D013835:Thiamine Pyrophosphate; D013831:Thiamine