Protocols of Thiamine Supplementation: Clinically Driven Rationality vs. Biological Commonsense

Abstract

Background: Thiamine deficiency requires supplementation to prevent or reverse severe clinical complications. Are supplementation protocols correctly tailored in neurology? Methods: An examination of recommended thiamine supplementation protocols is undertaken. Results: Recommended thiamine levels are much higher than required, reaching a median daily intake and total amount of 7.8-fold and 30.6-fold greater than the whole-body thiamine store, respectively. The high initial intake is often followed by tapering over days or weeks. Conclusions: Thiamine supplementation protocols in neurology mostly recommend far higher doses than those biologically required and could probably be simplified to a single 100 mg dose injected as early as possible.