title: The effect of magnesium administration on erythrocyte transketolase activity in alcoholic patients treated with thiamine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic alcoholic patients are at increased risk of developing deficiencies of thiamine and magnesium. Thiamine is an essential co-factor for a number of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and requires optimal levels of magnesium for biological function. However, whilst thiamine supplementation is well established for the treatment of alcoholic patients, the importance of magnesium is often overlooked. We describe the effect of concurrent thiamine and magnesium administration on the activity of the thiamine-dependent enzyme erythrocyte transketolase in a cohort of chronic alcoholic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline erythrocyte transketolase activities were measured on blood samples collected from 36 chronic alcoholic patients presenting acutely to the Accident and Emergency department. Patients received either intravenous Pabrinex (thiamine) supplemented with magnesium sulphate (n = 18) or Pabrinex only (n = 18). Post-treatment bloods were collected for re-assessment of erythrocyte transketolase activity. The change in transketolase activities (pre-vs. post-treatment) between the two patient groups were compared by Mann-Whitney U test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The increase in transketolase activity following treatment in the cohort receiving Pabrinex supplemented with magnesium sulphate was significantly greater (p = 0.018) than that produced in the cohort receiving Pabrinex alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the acute management of a sample of chronic alcoholic patients, those receiving magnesium sulphate with Pabrinex have higher increases in erythrocyte transketolase activity compared with those receiving Pabrinex alone. We conclude that concurrent magnesium administration with Pabrinex may be required for enabling full efficacy of Pabrinex treatment, as demonstrated by its positive effect on erythrocyte transketolase activity.
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Roy.Peake@childrens.harvard.edu
authors: R W A
authors: RW
authors: Peake
authors: I M
authors: IM
authors: Godber
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Maguire
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013831:Thiamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013832:Thiamine Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D014174:Transketolase / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D014174:Transketolase; D013831:Thiamine
keywords: Korsakoff’s psychosis; Pabrinex; Wernicke’s encephalopathy; co-factor; magnesium sulphate