From the Guidelines
Thiamine can help reduce acute gastroenteritis.
Thiamine Administration
- Thiamine can be administered orally, enterally, or IV, with the IV route being the most efficient, especially in severe cases 1.
- The recommended dose is 100-300 mg per day, given 3 times a day, for 3-4 days 1.
Patient Selection
- Patients admitted to emergency or intensive care should be prescribed thiamine without hesitation, from admission, for 3-4 days 1.
- Patients with reduced food intake or high alcohol consumption should also receive thiamine, either orally or IV, with a strong consensus of 92% 1.
Route of Administration
- IV administration is recommended for severe cases, while oral or enteral administration may be sufficient for less severe cases 1.
- The grade of recommendation for IV administration in emergency or intensive care is B, with a consensus of 80% 1.
From the Research
Thiamine and Acute Gastroenteritis
- There is no direct evidence to suggest that thiamine can reduce acute gastroenteritis 2, 3, 4.
- Thiamine deficiency can cause gastrointestinal beriberi, which may present with symptoms similar to acute gastroenteritis, such as vomiting and diarrhea 2, 3, 4.
- However, the primary cause of acute gastroenteritis is viral or bacterial infection, and treatment typically involves oral rehydration therapy and supportive care 5, 6.
- Thiamine supplementation may be beneficial in certain cases, such as in patients with thiamine deficiency or those at risk of developing deficiency, but it is not a primary treatment for acute gastroenteritis 2, 3, 4.
Treatment of Acute Gastroenteritis
- Oral rehydration therapy is the recommended first-line treatment for mild to moderate dehydration in acute gastroenteritis 5.
- Antiemetics, such as ondansetron, may be used to enhance compliance with oral rehydration therapy and decrease the rate of hospitalization 5.
- Zinc supplementation has been shown to be effective in shortening the duration of diarrhea-related illness in children, but its use is not recommended for children who eat a regular diet 6.