Thiamine Functions and Structure

Thiamine Functions and StructureMarno Terblanche Clinical chemistry II BAssignmentOverviewAbout five million individuals in America suffer from heart failure, with an spare 550,000 new diagnosis made each year. The life expectancy of people living with this condition has gradually increased due to the availability of useful and schematic treatment opportunities. The percentage of mortality in the States continues to be high even though things like omega-3 fatty acids, -blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have split uped the circumstances of these people. Vitamin B1, or better known as Thiamine, plays an integral part in the treatment of heart failure and is regarded as a clinical signifi buttt factor in the public assistance of the heart. It also enhances the prognosis and general health of the patients. Heart failure raise be caused by trace mineral deficiencies such as vitamin B1 lack and in that locationfore antiberiberi factor supplementation can be of great assistance in the treatment of this condition (DiNicolantonio, 2013).Vitamin B1 was the first out of eight B-vitamins to be identified, and always since the discovery it was given several names, with Thiamine being used the to the highest degree (DiNicolantonio, 2013). It is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning that it cannot be stored by the body and is obtained through diet sources such as beef, nuts, milk and whole-grain foods (Ehrlich, 2011).Studies around the causes of beriberi by a Dutch physician and pathologist, Christiaan Eijkman, led to the discovery of Vitamin B1 in 1897. Beriberi is a widespread and sometimes deleterious disease associated with heart failure. By 1926, vitamin B1 was separated into its pure form and given the name antiberiberi factor (Vitamins in Motion, 2013).More about Thiamine (Vitamin B1)AbsorptionThe ducking of thiamine restrains place in the jejunum with the aid of two processes. An active transport system in the small intestines is respo nsible for the absorption of thiamine once the levels put down below normal. Once the levels are too high, an inactive mucosal process occurs. The small intestines are capable of absorbing about 5 mg of thiamine. Tissues can reserve up to 30 mg of thiamine. The storing of thiamine is very important as the body cannot produce its own. The liver, heart, kidneys and brain are some of the organs which stores thiamine, with most of it found in the skeletal muscles (Nguyen-Khoa, 2013).StructureThe structure of thiamine consists of a pyrimidine ring with the radical NH2 and a thiazole ring. These two rings are connected with genius another by means of a methylene bridge (Mouton, 20144). Thiamine found within living tissues have a diphosphate ester structure known as thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP). TPP serves as a coenzyme that binds tightly to the apoenzyme (Ball, 1998268).FunctionsThere are four structures of thiamine that are present in all human beings. They include thiamine monophospha te, thiamine diphosphate, thiamine triphosphate and unphosphorylated thiamine (DiNicolantonio, 2013). Thiamine is very important in the body as it operates as a coenzyme that converts carbohydrates into glucose, which in turn is used to go away energy. It also assists in the metabolism of fats and protein, and is inherent for healthy eyes, hair, skin and liver (Ehrlich, 2011). Thiamine monophosphate can actively move into the central nervous system and poise where it is capable of preserving the sodium and potassium parsimoniousnesss. Sodium and potassium is required for nerve impulse conduction, and therefore it is vital for these levels to be maintained (DiNicolantonio, 2013).Thiamine is occasionally referred to as an anti-stress vitamin because of its ability to support the immune system and improve the ability of a persons body to endure traumatic situations. People who suffer from vitamin B1 wish are deprived from these normal functions that the vitamin provides, and there fore they develop conditions such as dry and wet beriberi (Ehrlich, 2011).Thiamine deficiencyDiets that are low or inadequate in vitamin B1 can lead to Thiamine deficiency (beriberi) as well as constant (long-lasting) diarrhoea. Diarrhoea actually weakens the bodys capacity to take up vitamin B1 (Nguyen-Khoa, 2013).There are two forms of beriberi namely dry and wet beriberi. Dry beriberi involves the deficiency of thiamine that affects the nervous system while wet beriberi comprises of cardiovascular complications (DiNicolantonio, 2013).A potential reason as to why wet beriberi arises, because of thiamine deficiency, is based on the fact that ATP is depleted from the cardiac muscle cells. The decrease in ATP then leads to the weakening of the cardiac muscle, which in the long run causes heart failure. There will be an increase in the concentration of adenosine monophosphate in the cardiac muscle cells as a dissolver of the inability of the cells to produce ATP. The adenosine mono phosphate is then converted to adenosine, which then starts to accumulate in the cells and then last leading to its release into the plasma by the aid of a nucleoside transporter. The manifestation of general vasodilatation and headaches is due to adenosine in the plasma (DiNicolantonio, 2013).Features of wet beriberiAs a result of thiamine deficiency and specifically wet beriberi, patients will represent with cardiovascular symptoms. It will include swelling of cells and tissues because of excessive water build-up, lactic acidosis, fluid retention, systemic dilation of business line vessels and a high-or-low-output cardiac failure. In addition to the menti nonpareild symptoms other signs such as increased levels of catecholamine and low diastolic pressure may be evident of wet beriberi (DiNicolantonio, 2013).Shoshin beriberi is known as an acute version of wet beriberi and these patients may show signs of an acute cardiovascular collapse as well as metabolic acidosis. If left un treated (i.e. if thiamine is not injected immediately) it may lead to death (DiNicolantonio, 2013).EpidemiologyThe prevalence of beriberi may be associated with the fact that milled rice was consumed by some populations all over the world. The external part of the rice that contained thiamine was removed by the milling process. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) there is a significant improvement in Indonesia where this process of removing the outer crust was and still is implemented. Back in the day beriberi was widespread and a health concern, but currently the occurrence is less common than what it was. Beriberi has a tendency to affect infants between 1 and 4 months as well as adults (Knott, 2010).Measurement of thiamineDirect detection is one of the methods used to measure the concentration of thiamine in the system. It can also be measured by determining enzyme body process of those enzymes that require thiamine for optimal functioning. There is more than one me thod that can be used to measure thiamine levels. Urinary and serum thiamine level estimation, red blood cell transketolase and TPP (thiamine pyrophosphate) analysis is some of the methods available. It is important to measure thiamine stores and amongst all current tests available there is still no consistent test usable for this purpose. Thiamine will move to the liver and enter the red blood cells soon after it has been absorbed in the jejunum. The bar of thiamine in blood ranges from 60-120 g/L. From this total volume (concentration) about 80% will be found within the red blood cells. Because thiamine has a limited duration in the body, it is not reliable to measure serum levels or use it as a marker of thiamine stores (DiNicolantonio, 2013). liquidation of thiamine in the distal nephron is also directly associated with the amount of thiamine in blood. However, the concentration will be dependent on young intake only, and therefore isnt indicative of thiamine sites (for storag e) in the body. 24-hour urine samples are required for evaluating thiamine levels, and this may be tiresome for the individual (DiNicolantonio, 2013).So far the most effective and reliable test available is the erythrocyte transketolase activity assay that evaluates transketolase activity. In an artificial manner thiamine is added to the red blood cells followed by the measurement of transketolase activity. Transketolase cannot function without thiamine diphospahte. Because it requires the coenzyme for optimal functioning the action of the transketolase enzyme proves that there is indeed thiamine diphosphate in the cells. Since red blood cells are one of the first cell types to be affected by thiamine deficiency, it can be considered an accurate test procedure (DiNicolantonio, 2013).TreatmentThiamine supplements are essential to those individuals that suffer from dry or wet beriberi. It is recommended that 1.1-1.2 mg of thiamine supplements are administered on a daily basis. When it comes to wet beriberi the patient may require snow mg/day intravenous thiamine supplementation for more than a few days. It has also been suggested that individuals whose chances are higher of developing the deficiency should receive one C mg of supplements ternion times daily. In instances where there is a confirmed deficiency, an increased dosage of thiamine (from 100 to 200 mg) should be taken three times daily. The supplementation is critical for the management and treatment of this deficiency and it has been showed that there is substantial improvement in the condition after the person received treatment (DiNicolantonio, 2013).PrognosisBeriberi is not that difficult to treat. With proper treatment one can expect to see a significant recovery, even in more inexorable types of this deficiency. Within 12 hours of supplementation one can notice an improvement. Because treatment provides for more rapid recovery, it can almost be used as a diagnostic test. Overall the prognosis is fairly good (Nguyen-Khoa, 2013).ConclusionIndividuals who suffer from heart failure are more prone to develop vitamin deficiencies such as thiamine deficiency. It is therefore important to limit any nutritional defects to prevent such deficiencies from occurring. This is a controllable condition and with necessary treatment one can expect substantial improvements. The use of vitamin B1 has demonstrated to better heart function, urinary function as well as symptoms of heart failure (DiNicolantonio, 2013).ReferencesBall, G.F.M. (1998). Bioavailability and Analysis of Vitamins in Foods. 1st ed. London Chapman Hall.DiNicolantonio, JJ. et al. (2013). Thiamine Supplementation for the Treatment of Heart Failure A Review of the Literature. Congestive Heart Failure online. 19, p.214-222. Available from . Accessed 18 marvelous 2014.Ehrlich, SD. (2011). University of Maryland Medical Center online. Available from https//umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-b1-thiamine. Accesse d 18 August 2014.Knott, L. (2010). Patient.co.uk online. Available from www.patient.co.uk/doctor/beriberi. Accessed 26 August 2014.Mouton, TM. (2014). Clinical Chemistry II B Core Notes Bellville CPUTNguyen-Khoa, DT. (2013). Medscape online. Available from http//emedicine.medscape.com/article/116930-overview. Accessed 18 August 2014.Vitamins in Motion online. (2013). Available from www.vitaminsinmotion.com//VitaminsinMotion_VitaminB1.pdf. Accessed 9 August 2014.