The Influence of Thiamine, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine, and Pantothenic Acid Deficiencies on Nitrogen Metabolism

Abstract

In thiamine deficiency there are large excretions of ammonia, creatine, and preformed creatinine in the urine. The creatinuria may be rated as marked. While there is a significant relationship between large excretions of preformed creatinine and body weight, there is no such definite relationship between creatine elimination and body weight in this avitaminosis when the data are examined statistically. There is a great increase of total non-protein nitrogen and urea in the blood even in mild chronic states of thiamine deficiency. In riboflavin deficiency there are large excretions of ammonia in the urine and a moderate creatinuria. The latter was manifested by excretions of both creatine and preformed creatinine when changes in body weight were taken into consideration during the vitamin depletion periods. There is also a small reduction in allantoin excretion in the urine. These changes were noted in advanced states of deficiency. In pyridoxine there is a mild creatinuria, a reduction in urinary excretion of uric acid, and a marked retention of creatine and uric acid in the blood. These observations were made in mild states of this avitaminosis. In pantothenic acid deficiency there is a moderate creatinuria, and a small reduction in allantoin excretion in the urine. The increases in total non-protein nitrogen and urea of the blood were noted only in the terminal stages of this avitaminosis.