Therapeutic potential of thiamine in lead toxicity – a clinical study

Abstract

Occupational exposure to lead is hazardous and hence requires to be prevented and treated. The use of sensitive biochemical markers such as erythrocytic ALAD and renal tubular lysosomal enzyme NAG are gaining importance as early parameters to detect exposure to lead and sub-clinical toxicity. The monocasters, occupationally exposed to lead continuously for 1 O-l 5 Years had significant high blood lead levels (44.1( l.3 (g/dl). imoaired ALAD activitv (227 ( 57 nmole/hr/ml)-coupled with increased % stimulation in vitro (239( 72) and elevated enzymuria (NAG activity 11.9 ( 0.8 (mol/g creatinine) as compared to normal subjects indicating sub-clinical toxicity of sofl tissues. Thiamine, a vitamin which has sulphahydryl group was assessed as chelator of lead from tissues. Wii the administration of thiamine there was a significant reduction in blood lead levels (33.2(1.8 (g/dl), and reversion in basal ALAD activity (281 ( 33 nmol/hr/ml) and in vitro % stimulation (154 (7.0) in a span of 12 months. The results indicate the beneficial effect of thiamine in the treatment of chronic subclinical lead toxicity.