Hypomagnesaemia and its potential impact on thiamine utilisation in patients with alcohol misuse at the Alice Springs Hospital.

2015-05-01

Dingwall, Kylie Maree

Delima, Jennifer

Gent, Debra

Batey, Robert Gordon

Menzies School of Health Research, Institute of Advanced Studies, Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs, Australia.

Wernicke Korsakoff Syndrome

cognition

hypomagnesaemia

magnesium

thiamine

Adult

Alcoholism

Cognition Disorders

Cross-Sectional Studies

Female

Humans

Male

Middle Aged

Neuropsychological Tests

Northern Territory

Thiamine

Thiamine Deficiency

Journal Article

Publication

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Alcohol rapidly reduces thiamine among alcohol-dependent individuals. Poor diet and alcohol's impact on absorption, storage, activation and excretion of thiamine are thought to be the mechanisms. Previous literature identifies magnesium as an important cofactor in thiamine utilisation, which might also be compromised in alcohol dependent patients. The aim was to describe the thiamine status and clinical profile for a sample of heavy alcohol users entering the Alice Springs Hospital in the Northern Territory of Australia and to examine the relationship between thiamine deficiency, magnesium deficiency and cognitive functioning. DESIGN AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study examining thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) and magnesium concentrations for a sample of 62 males and 43 females (N = 105; n = 88 Aboriginal, n = 13 non-Indigenous). Cognition was assessed using the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale. RESULTS: TPP concentrations were within or above the reference range. Aboriginal patients had significantly lower TPP than non-Indigenous patients. A marginally significant difference was found between individuals with thiamine supplementation recorded within the previous 20 days compared with those without. Mean serum magnesium was in the low normal range with magnesium deficiency (i.e. <0.80 mmol L(-1)) present in 48% of those tested. Serum magnesium (but not TPP) concentrations correlated positively with cognitive test scores. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Despite increased exposure to risk factors for Wernicke Korsakoff Syndrome, no patient had TPP concentrations below the reference range. High patient readmission and aggressive thiamine treatment policies may explain this finding. However, low magnesium may be prevalent and could contribute to impaired thiamine utilisation.

link

Drug Alcohol Rev . 2015 May;34(3):323-8. doi: 10.1111/dar.12237. Epub 2015 Feb 19.

1465-3362

1465-3362

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25693730/?otool=iaurydwlib