Prevalence of thiamin deficiency in anorexia nervosa

Objective: Deficiency of thiamin (vitamin B1) causes a range of neuropsychi atric symptoms that resemble those reported in patients with anorexia nervo sa (AN) but the prevalence of thiamin deficiency in AN has not been reliabl y established. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of thi amin deficiency in AN. Method: Thirty-seven patients attending a specialist eating disorders unit and meeting all or some of the DSM-IV criteria for A N were compared with 50 blood donor controls. All subjects underwent measur ement of erythrocyte transketolase activation following the addition of thi amin pyrophosphate, the standard biochemical test for thiamin deficiency. D eficiency was defined as a result more than 2 SD above the mean of the cont rol population. Results: Fourteen patients (38%) had results in the deficie nt range; 7 (19%) met the most stringent published criterion for deficiency . Deficiency was not related to duration of eating restraint, frequency of vomiting, or alcohol consumption. Discussion: Thiamin deficiency may accoun t for some of the neuropsychiatric symptoms of AN and routine screening or supplementation may be indicated. (C) 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.