The relationship between plasma and red cell B-vitamin concentrations in critically-ill patients
Date
2005-07-28Author
Quasim, Tara
McMillan, Donald C.
Talwar, Dinesh
Vasilaki, Katerina
O'Reilly, Denis St J.
Kinsella, John
Metadata
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Quasim, T., McMillan, D.C., Talwar, D., Vasilaki, K., O'Reilly, D.S.J. and Kinsella, J. (2005) “The relationship between plasma and red cell B-vitamin concentrations in critically-ill patients”, 24(6), pp. 956-960.
Abstract
Background and aims: Low vitamin B-complex status has been associated with
poorer outcome in critically-ill patients. However, these findings have been based on
indirect methods. Using direct methods for assessing vitamin status, we examined
the effect of B-complex vitamin supplementation by measuring plasma and red blood
cell B1, B2 and B6-vitamin concentrations in critically-ill patients.
Methods: Thiamine diphosphate (TDP), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and
pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) concentrations were measured in plasma and red cells
of normal subjects (n ¼ 49) and ITU patients (n ¼ 41).
Results: Compared with the normal subjects, critically-ill patients had higher C-
reactive protein and lower albumin concentrations (Po0:001). Also, plasma FAD and
PLP were lower (Po0:001) and red cell concentrations of both were higher (Po0:01)
in critically-ill patients. Critically-ill patients were grouped according to whether
(n ¼ 23) or not (n ¼ 18) they had been supplemented with B-complex vitamins.
Compared with non-supplemented group, the supplemented group had significantly
higher red cell TDP and PLP concentrations (Po0:01). Plasma FAD and PLP
concentrations did not differ significantly between the groups.
Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that direct measurements of
red cell FAD and PLP are more responsive to supplementation than plasma
measurements in the critically-ill patient.