[The thiamine index as an integral indicator of the body allowance of vitamin B1].

One of the most wide-spread methods of evaluation of thiamine content in the body is determination of the activity of the thiamine pyrophosphate-dependent enzyme--transketolase--and so-called TPP-effect (the quantitative measure of unsaturation of transketolase with coenzyme). Absence of distinct correlation between the parameters in a number of cases calls for a search for the integral coefficient less dependent on the original dynamics of the given markers. Thus, we propose to use the thiamine index calculated by means of division of transketolase activity index expressed in absolute units by TPP-effect index expressed in relative units. The examples of thiamine index calculation and peculiarities of its interpretation with consideration of dynamic state of chronic alcoholics in abstinence and of patients with acute alcohol psychoses are shown.