The response to treatment of subclinical thiamine deficiency in the elderly

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#administration-oral #aged #blood-pressure #body-weight #double-blind-method

The response to treatment of subclinical thiamine deficiency in the elderly

Wilkinson et al., 1997 | Am J Clin Nutr | Rct

Citation

Wilkinson T J, Hanger H C, ... Sainsbury R. The response to treatment of subclinical thiamine deficiency in the elderly. Am J Clin Nutr. 1997-Oct;66(4):925-8

Abstract

The significance of subclinical thiamine deficiency in the elderly was determined by assessing response to thiamine supplementation in a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Thirty-five of 222 people aged > or = 65 y had two concentrations of erythrocyte thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) < 140 nmol/L 3 mo apart and 41 other people had the first, but not the second, TPP concentration below this value. Both groups were randomly assigned in a double-blind trial to oral thiamine (10 mg/d) or a placebo. All subjects randomly assigned to receive thiamine showed increases in TPP concentrations compared with control subjects. Only the subjects with persistently low TPP concentrations showed subjective benefits from treatment with improvements in quality of life (measured on a visual analogue scale; P = 0.02) and decreases in systolic blood pressure (P = 0.05) and weight (P < 0.01) when compared with subjects given placebo. There was a trend toward benefits in sleep and energy (P = 0.07). We conclude that a low TPP concentration on two occasions is a better predictor of response to treatment than an isolated measurement. Quality of life was enhanced by providing thiamine supplements. Blood pressure and weight were lower after thiamine supplementation.

Key Findings

Blood pressure and weight were lower after thiamine supplementation.

Outcomes Measured

  • blood pressure
  • systolic blood pressure

Population

Field Value
Population persistently low tpp concentrations
Sample Size 222
Age Range See abstract
Condition sleep

MeSH Terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Aged
  • Blood Pressure
  • Body Weight
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Erythrocytes
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Quality of Life
  • Thiamine
  • Thiamine Deficiency
  • Thiamine Pyrophosphate

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Rct
  • Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Vertical: thiamine-energy

Provenance

  • PMID: 9322569
  • DOI: (not available)
  • PMCID: Not in PMC
  • Verified: 2026-04-09 via PubMed E-utilities API

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09