Thiamine Deficiency Syndrome

Thiamine deficiency is most prevalent among people whose intake of highly refined carbohydrates or white rice if above normal. Heart failures and Wernicke – korfakoff syndrome are some of the symptoms that we can see. Alcoholics are also susceptible to this deficiency. To treat the deficiency thiamine is supplied.

There are five thiamine deficiency symptoms: tiredness, irritability, sleep disturbance beri beri, Wernicke – korfakoff syndrome. The tiredness can be a result of a stressful or a busy life style, or the symptom of thiamine deficiency. It is important to inquire if the patient is tired due to lack of sleep or due to muscular or physical tiredness. Either way, in rare cases both may cause each other. Excessive tiredness should be dealt with serious medical investigations. The causes of tiredness are lack of sleep, insomnia, sleeping difficulty, general stress, jet lag, shift work, relationship conflict, new baby, pregnancy, increased work load, fatigue, drowses, exhaustion, and prostration. Some of the problems of the illness or disorders that might cause tiredness are chronic fatigue syndrome, hypo thyroidism anemia, depression, dulimiamervosa, anorexiamervosa, alcohol withdrawal and drug withdrawal. Frustration or annoyance in excess leads to irritability.

Every person in this fast moving world is bound to be irritated because of something. Thiamine deficiency can be one of the many reasons for irritability. The following conditions are possible causes of irritability. Stress, puberty, normal teen behavior, tiredness, inadequate sleep, emotional problems, common cold, flu, head ache, premenstrual symptom , diabetics, type 1 diabetics, diabetic keto acidosis, anxiety, fatigue, drug abuse alcohol abuse, thyroid disease , attention deficit disorder, confusion, forgetfulness, mental illness such as depression, clinical depression, dementia, Alzheimer’s diseases , schizophrenia and brain conditions. Difficulty in sleeping is termed as insomnia. It can cause difficulty in falling asleep, waking up a bit early in the dawn and waking up at indefinite periods in the night. The following can be grouped up under the causes of sleep disturbance, and they are acute intermittence porphyria, ageing, alcohol withdrawl, alcoholism or stopping alcohol suddenly after a long term use, amantadine. Beri beri arises due to the deficiency of vitamin B1. The symptoms are summarized below, which are Appetite loss, tiredness, irritability, muscle aches and Limb pains. In the Wernicke – korfakoff syndrome, brain disorder due to thiamine deficiency is termed as this. It is a rare syndrome which can be seen often in chronic alcoholics. Symptoms are reduced eye movements, abnormal eye movements, staggering gait and agitation.