Thiamine and Cardiovascular Disease: A Literature Review.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative literature review without systematic search or meta-analytic methods
PubMed 29360523 · doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2018.01.009
What was done
The authors conducted a narrative literature review examining the physiological role of thiamine in human energy metabolism, the scope of thiamine deficiency, and the cardiovascular effects of deficiency and supplementation, particularly in relation to heart failure and high-risk populations such as individuals with chronic alcoholism.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data or statistical findings. It qualitatively notes that thiamine deficiency can cause neurological abnormalities (dry beriberi) and congestive heart failure (wet beriberi), and that heart failure from thiamine deficiency frequently presents non-specifically, contributing to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Why it matters
The paper underscores the importance of considering thiamine deficiency as a treatable differential diagnosis in patients presenting with new-onset heart failure of unknown etiology and associated risk factors.
Limits
The paper is a narrative review without reported systematic search methods, screening criteria, or risk-of-bias assessment. No quantitative results, sample sizes, or original clinical trial data are provided in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Beriberi is a disease associated with a pure carbohydrate/polished rice diet that presents with heart failure, non-healing leg ulcers, bright shiny red skin, and burning in the feet.