From the Guidelines
The treatment for beriberi primarily involves thiamine (vitamin B1) supplementation, with oral thiamine at doses of 200-300 mg daily or intravenous thiamine for severe cases, as recommended by the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society guidelines 1. The goal of treatment is to rapidly correct the thiamine deficiency and prevent further complications, such as Wernicke's encephalopathy.
- Key considerations in treatment include:
- Immediate initiation of thiamine supplementation, either orally or intravenously, in patients with suspected thiamine deficiency or clinical symptoms of beriberi 1
- Avoidance of oral or intravenous glucose in patients at risk of or with suspected thiamine deficiency, as it can precipitate Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome 1
- Assessment and correction of other potential deficiencies, such as vitamin B12, copper, and vitamin E, in patients with neurological symptoms 1
- Referral to a neurologist for patients with neurological symptoms
- Addressing underlying causes, such as improving overall nutrition and reducing alcohol consumption if applicable
- Treatment outcomes:
- Rapid improvement in cardiovascular symptoms within hours to days
- Gradual resolution of neurological symptoms over weeks to months
- Importance of maintenance oral therapy and a thiamine-rich diet to prevent recurrence
- Potential need for additional supportive care, such as physical therapy or heart failure management, depending on the specific type of beriberi (wet or dry) 1
From the FDA Drug Label
Dosage and Administration “Wet” beriberi with myocardial failure must be treated as an emergency cardiac condition, and thiamine must be administered slowly by the IV route in this situation (see WARNINGS). In the treatment of beriberi, 10 to 20 mg of thiamine hydrochloride are given IM three times daily for as long as two weeks. The treatment for beriberi is thiamine hydrochloride administered:
- IM: 10 to 20 mg three times daily for up to two weeks
- Oral: a therapeutic multivitamin preparation containing 5 to 10 mg thiamine, administered daily for one month, to achieve body tissue saturation 2
From the Research
Treatment for Beriberi
The treatment for beriberi primarily involves thiamine supplementation, as the condition is caused by a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1) [ 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ].
- Thiamine administration can reverse the neurologic and cardiovascular abnormalities associated with beriberi if treated early [ 3 ].
- In cases of dry beriberi, thiamine repletion leads to rapid clinical improvement and can prevent irreversible neurologic sequelae [ 4 ].
- For shoshin beriberi, an acute form of wet beriberi, thiamine administration can rapidly reverse cardiogenic shock [ 5, 6 ].
- Hemodynamic evaluation can aid in the early recognition of acute cardiovascular beriberi, allowing for timely thiamine treatment [ 7 ].
Administration of Thiamine
Thiamine can be administered intravenously, especially in severe cases or when oral absorption is a concern [ 3, 4 ].