Absorption, utilization and clinical effectiveness of allithiamines compared to water-soluble thiamines

Abstract

Oral administration of lipidsoluble allithiamines [thiamine propyl disulfide (TPD) and thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTHF)] rapidly increased thiamine activity in whole blood, red blood cells, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine in normal and thiamine-deficient subjects. These thiamine congeners also restored red blood cell transketolase to normal in alcoholics with thiamine deficiency. Such repletion equaled that produced by parenteral, water-soluble thiamine hydrochloride (THCI) or thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP). Oral administration of water-soluble thiamines (THCI, TPP) neither elevated thiamine activity in biological fluids nor restored transketolase activity to normal in alcoholics with thiamine deficiency presumably due to their rate-limited intestinal transport. Oral administration of TPD eliminated lateral rectos palsy in patients with Wernicke's encephalo-pathy. Orally administered allithiamine vita-mers are therefore recommended for prophylaxis and treatment of thiamine deficits because while having essentially the same biological properties as parenterally administered water-soluble thiamines they have not produced any untoward effects after long-term administration and are far more efficiently utilized. © 1976, Center for Academic Publications Japan. All rights reserved.