Thiamine Status in Patients Undergoing Lower Extremity Amputation due to Diabetic Foot Lesion

The aim of this study was to determine the thiamine status in patients undergoing major lower limb amputation due to diabetic foot lesion. Ten patients with diabetic foot lesion, ten diabetic patients without foot lesion, and ten non-diabetic patients were included in the study. Thiamine status was determined as thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) effect. The mean TPP effect values of diabetes mellitus foot lesion (DM foot) , DM control, and non-diabetic control groups were 16.160 ± 3.276, 13.610 ± 1.767, and 6.912 ± 2.005 respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the DM foot and non-diabetic control groups. Although the mean TPP value of the DM foot group was slightly higher than the DM control group, it was not significant. Since transketolase enzyme is thought to be one of the key points in development of diabetic complications, to lessen the diabetic complication by maximizing the transketolase function, we recommend regular supply of thiamine to the diabetic population.