Alcoholics may have thiamine deficiency because of the following:

These bacteria produce thiaminases that will cause an acute thiamine deficiency in the affected animal.

For example, in thiamine deficiency, treatment would be the immediate administration of vitamin B1.

The toxicity appears to be due to thiaminase enzymes, which can cause thiamine deficiency.

As such, it has been noted that physicians should test for the presence of thiamine deficiency in alcoholics.

Other conditions that may cause thiamine deficiency include:

Between 30% and 80% of alcoholics are believed to have thiamine deficiency.

The response to treatment of subclinical thiamine deficiency in the elderly.

People at risk for thiamine deficiency should take a thiamine supplement.

Cats fed exclusively on raw, freshwater fish can develop a thiamine deficiency.