The experimental and clinical data on different aspects of vitamin and
hormone relationships have been summarized in the form of a general c
oncept of the noncoenzymatic thiamine effect, on the basis of a number
of premises: (1) discovery of tissue factors limiting the manifestati
on of the specific activity of administered thiamine (the presence of
a tissue buffer depot of easily accessible coenzymes, and lack of free
apoenzymes); (2) evidence of a thiamine effect on the pancreatic insu
lin-synthesizing function; (3) stimulation of metabolic thiamine effec
ts, including the effects of insulin administration on thiamine-depend
ent enzymes; (4) determination of the features of hormonal control of
thiamine metabolism in the body; (5) confirmation of the predictive fo
rce of the concept by clinical trials of the new strategy of thiamine
therapy.