Thiamin status of a Melanesian population.
A semiautomated method is described which uses the Abbott ABA-100 bichromatic analyzer to measure the stimulation of erythrocyte transketolase by thiamin pyrophosphate (the thiamin pyrophosphate effect). The method was accurate with a throughput of 30 samples per hour and is suitable for the study of the thiamin status of large populations. A significant proportion (21%) of a total of 1920 individuals of a predominantly Melanesian population were found to have an elevated thiamin pyrophosphate effect (greater than 15% activation). This same proportion with an elevated thiamin pyrophosphate effect was found in an urban hospital patient group of 346 individuals. Statistical analysis indicated a significant inverse correlation between thiamin pyrophosphate effect and plasma potassium concentration (p less than 0.001). Analysis of human fecal samples for thiaminase I activity demonstrated that this enzyme was present in 23 of a total of 46 samples selected from both the Melanesian and urban hospital patient groups. Preliminary findings indicated that the thiaminase originated from a bacterial source.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D005243:Feces / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008542:Melanesia; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013831:Thiamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis; D013835:Thiamine Pyrophosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014166:Transferases / Q000032:analysis*; D014174:Transketolase / Q000097:blood
D014166:Transferases; D014174:Transketolase; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; C022737:thiamin pyridinylase; D013835:Thiamine Pyrophosphate; D013831:Thiamine