High Levels May Indicate:

• Excessive Supplementation – Thiamine is water-soluble, so high serum levels are typically rare. However, extremely high supplementation beyond dietary needs can result in elevated levels, which are usually benign given its rapid renal excretion.

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Low Levels May Indicate:

• Thiamine Deficiency (Beriberi) – Insufficient intake, malabsorption, or increased metabolic demand can lead to deficiency. This may manifest as dry beriberi (neurological effects, such as peripheral neuropathy) or wet beriberi (cardiovascular symptoms, like heart failure).
• Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome – Especially in chronic alcohol misuse, severe thiamine deficiency may contribute to this neurological disorder characterized by confusion, ataxia, and memory impairment.

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Life-Phase Considerations:

• Children & Adolescents – Adequate thiamine is critical for growth and neurodevelopment; deficiency may impair energy metabolism and delay development.
• Adults – Thiamine supports daily energy production and nervous system function; deficiency may lead to fatigue, muscle weakness, and neurological disturbances.
• Elderly – Aging can be associated with reduced dietary intake or absorption issues, increasing the risk of deficiency and related complications, potentially affecting cognitive and muscular function.

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Protein and Nutritional Status Markers

• Serum albumin & serum protein:
  These are primary indicators of visceral protein stores and overall liver synthetic capacity; lowered levels often suggest malnutrition or liver dysfunction.
  
  
• Transferrin & total iron binding capacity (TIBC):
  These markers reflect the liver’s protein synthesis capacity and play a role in iron transport. Reduced values can be associated with nutritional deficiencies or inflammation.
  
  
• Nitrogen of amino acids in serum:
  This measurement provides insight into protein turnover and the availability of amino acids, serving as an indicator of protein metabolic status.
  
  
• Blood urea & urine urea:
  These reflect the end-product of protein metabolism. Their levels indicate dietary protein intake and the degree of catabolic activity.
  
  
• Essential vitamins (e.g., A, B1, B2, B6, B12, D3, E):
  These critical micronutrients support various metabolic processes, including protein synthesis, and are important for overall nutritional health.
  
  
• Additional protein fractions (alpha-1 globulin, alpha-1 antitrypsin, alpha-2 globulin, beta globulin):
  While these are primarily considered acute-phase reactants, persistent changes in these fractions can also signal alterations in nutritional status and liver function.
  
  

Together, these markers provide a comprehensive picture of the body’s protein and nutritional status, integrating assessments of macronutrients, micronutrients, and liver function to reflect overall metabolic health.

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