Intestinal Metabolism in Thiamine Deficiency

Severe thiamine deficiency in rats was found to depress intestinal mucosal pyruvate decarboxylase and transketolase activities by 56 and 93% (p < 0.05), respectively. Whole gut transketolase activity in thiamine deficiency was also reduced by 70-80% (p < 0.05). Despite the major decline in intestinal pyruvate decarboxylase activity, ATP levels in both mucosa and whole gut of thiamine-deficient rats remained normal. By contrast, the decrease in mucosal transketo-lase activity in thiamine-deficient animals was accompanied by a 40% decline in pentose cycle activity (p < 0.05), which reverted to normal after administration of thiamine.