Guide To The Symptoms Of A Thiamine Deficiency

Delirium

Individuals who experience delirium may be affected by a deficiency of thiamine. Thiamine is an important vitamin that helps facilitate the conversion of dietary nutrients into cellular energy the body can use. These processes require the use of certain enzymes that depend on the presence of thiamine to work correctly. As a result, there is a reduction in the activities of these enzymes that effectively begins a cascade of metabolic events that compromise significant amounts of energy. Certain tissues in the brain have greater metabolic requirements than other parts. The absence of energy and thiamine in these demanding tissues results in neuronal death. When this process occurs in certain parts of the brain, the patient can experience episodes of delirium. Additionally, a thiamine deficiency commonly results in increased cardiac output and an elevated resting heart rate. Both of these factors over time can result in reduced heart function. When the heart cannot pump efficiently enough or blood pressure becomes too low, not enough oxygen is delivered to the tissues in the brain. This mechanism can also result in an affected individual's delirium.

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