Thiamine (vitamin B1) is available in common foods such as the outer husk of rice and is necessary for normal cardiovascular, neurological and metabolic processes. Thiamine deficiency is common in many parts of Asia and Africa, affecting up to a third or more of children and women of child-bearing age. The diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion, especially when noting heart failure in infants, encephalopathy in patients of any age, and peripheral neuropathy in older children and adults. Blood tests for whole-blood thiamine diphosphate (the quantity of biologically active thiamine present) and erythrocyte transketolase activity (the functional impact of thiamine) are not always readily available in areas where thiamine deficiency is common. Treatment is safe and effective, although dosing guidelines vary widely; 50 mg daily for 5 days is probably effective for treating acute thiamine deficiency disorders, and ongoing adequate thiamine intake is also needed. Prevention efforts depend on local and regional circumstances, including dietary diversification, food fortification, and/or supplementation of children and women at risk.Abbreviations: HIC: high-income countries; LMIC: low- and middle-income countries; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; TDD: thiamine deficiency disorders.
Keywords: Thiamine deficiency; global health; women and children.