Cognitive deficits, vitamin status and controlled thiamine substitution in alcohol dependent patients in withdrawal treatment

Vitamin status and cognitive performance in a test battery were analyzed in 45 alcohol dependent men after admission to and after two weeks of withdrawal treatment in two psychiatric clinics. To examine the effect of thiamin substitution versus alcohol withdrawal and hospital diet alone, 23 patients received 300 mg thiamin daily, 22 patients no vitamin substitution. Thiamin substitution alone ameliorated selectively and significantly the mean marginal thiamin status. Multiple correlations between measurements of the thiamin parameter transketolase activity and test performances were found in the total study group. Thiamin substitution decreased the percentage of weak test performances, whereas the mean test performances did not differ significantly between experimental and control groups (limited in numbers). For clinical practice, thiamin substitution seems indicated during stationary withdrawal treatments, because there is no amelioration of the thiamin status with hospital diet and alcohol withdrawal alone, but there are possible correlations of thiamin deficiency and cognitive performances.