Thiamine and phosphate esters concentrations in whole blood and serum of patients with alcohol use disorder: a relation with cognitive deficits

ABSTRACT

Background: In this study, we investigated (1) the effect of chronic and excessive alcohol consumption on whole blood (WB) and serum concentrations of thiamine and its metabolites after supplementation, and (2) the relationship between the perturbations of thiamine metabolism and neuropsychological abilities.

Methods: WB and serum samples were collected in patients with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and in healthy control subjects (after oral thiamine supplementation, or without supplementation). Thiamine (Th), thiamine monophosphate (TMP) and thiamine diphosphate (TDP) were quantified. The Brief Evaluation of Alcohol-Related Neuropsychological Impairments (BEARNI) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were performed by each AUD participant. Based on the BEARNI score, two groups of AUD patients were studied: AUD patients with no or mild cognitive impairment (AUD COG+), and AUD patients with moderate-to-severe cognitive impairment (AUD COG−).

Results: In WB, Th concentrations were significantly higher, and percentages of phosphate esters of thiamine were significantly lower in AUD COG− patients compared to controls. In serum, Th concentrations were significantly higher in AUD COG− patients compared to controls. The percentage of Th in serum was significantly higher in AUD COG− patients compared to AUD COG+ patients, and to the groups of controls. When adjusted on education level, the percentage of Th in serum in AUD patients negatively correlated with the scores at BEARNI and MoCA, and Th concentration in serum negatively correlated with MoCA.

Conclusions: These data support an impairment of metabolism and/or distribution of thiamine in AUD patients, and a relationship with the development of alcohol-related cognitive deficits.

KEYWORDS:

• Thiamine
• vitamin B1
• alcohol
• alcohol use disorder
• cognition
• brief evaluation of alcohol-related neuropsychological impairment
• montreal cognitive assessment
• neuropsychological tests

Authors contribution

LC, LR: study concept and design, data acquisition and analysis, drafting/revising manuscript for content. CL, CB, MN: data acquisition and analysis. ALP, HB, FV: study concept and design, data acquisition and analysis, obtaining funding, drafting/revising manuscript for content, study supervision and coordination.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM), the French National Agency for Research (ANR) and Postdoc Return (Retour Post-Doctorants, PDOC) program, Lower Normandy Regional Council, and the Mission Interministérielle de Lutte contre les Drogues Et les Conduites Addictives (MILDECA).