Thiamine deficiency is diagnosed using a physical exam, looking for issues like behavioral or mobility changes, as well as laboratory testing to confirm.
Urine tests are not reliable for measuring thiamine levels, nor are direct blood tests of thiamine levels.
Instead, medical professionals often use a blood test to measure the activity of the enzyme transketolase. The activity of transketolase requires thiamine, so if its activity is reduced in the body, it’s assumed to be due to a lack of thiamine.
The best approach is to prevent thiamine deficiency in the first place by eating a variety of thiamine-containing foods and potentially using a thiamine-containing supplement. If thiamine deficiency is diagnosed using a reliable lab test, high dose supplementation is used to correct it.
Urine tests are not reliable for measuring thiamine levels, nor are direct blood tests of thiamine levels.
Instead, medical professionals often use a blood test to measure the activity of the enzyme transketolase. The activity of transketolase requires thiamine, so if its activity is reduced in the body, it’s assumed to be due to a lack of thiamine.
The best approach is to prevent thiamine deficiency in the first place by eating a variety of thiamine-containing foods and potentially using a thiamine-containing supplement. If thiamine deficiency is diagnosed using a reliable lab test, high dose supplementation is used to correct it.