Trial Outcomes & Findings for Prevalence of Thiamine Deficiency in Hospitalized Non-Alcoholic Veterans (NCT NCT05480943)

NCT ID: NCT05480943

Last Updated: 2026-08-12

Results Overview

The percentage of enrolled non-alcoholic veterans who have thiamine deficiency (defined as low plasma thiamine levels) out of the total number of enrolled Veterans with plasma thiamine results.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Target enrollment

206 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline

Results posted on

2026-08-12

Participant Flow

All admissions to the hospital were screened and Veterans were excluded if they reported excess alcohol intake; taking thiamine; lived more than 70 miles from the hospital. Those who passed screening were approached for consent. If they were unable to comprehend and "read back" basic elements of the informed consent (as determined by the U-ARE protocol), they were not included due to prohibitive state laws. The first patient was enrolled on July 19, 2022. The last Veteran was enrolled 8/27/2024.

1713 participants were screened. Of those, 336 were being discharged too soon for study procedures, 322 lived too far away, 211 took thiamine, 149 had alcohol use disorder, 134 were excluded for reasons due to study logistics (e.g. lack of provider to complete exams, patient too busy, etc.), and 99 cognitively could not consent. Of the remaining, 256 did not want to participate and 206 were enrolled.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Veterans Without Alcohol Use Disorder Admitted to the Hospital
Veterans with full admission to the hospital who did not have alcohol use disorder, lived within 70 miles of the hospital, were able to read back key portions of the consent, and who were not taking thiamine supplements.
Evaluation for Thiamine Deficiency
STARTED
206
Evaluation for Thiamine Deficiency
Obtained Plasma Thiamine Results
181
Evaluation for Thiamine Deficiency
Answered Interview Questions
177
Evaluation for Thiamine Deficiency
Completed Initial Physical Exam
162
Evaluation for Thiamine Deficiency
COMPLETED
162
Evaluation for Thiamine Deficiency
NOT COMPLETED
44
Suspected Thiamine Deficiency
STARTED
124
Suspected Thiamine Deficiency
COMPLETED
60
Suspected Thiamine Deficiency
NOT COMPLETED
64

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Veterans Without Alcohol Use Disorder Admitted to the Hospital
Veterans with full admission to the hospital who did not have alcohol use disorder, lived within 70 miles of the hospital, were able to read back key portions of the consent, and who were not taking thiamine supplements.
Evaluation for Thiamine Deficiency
Lost to Follow-up
31
Evaluation for Thiamine Deficiency
Protocol Violation
12
Evaluation for Thiamine Deficiency
Withdrawal by Subject
1
Suspected Thiamine Deficiency
Lost to Follow-up
64

Baseline Characteristics

181 with plasma thiamine biomarker results

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Hospitalized Non-alcoholic Veterans
n=206 Participants
Veterans with full admission to the VA Sierra Nevada Healthcare System Hospital who do not have alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Age, Continuous
70.33 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.53 • n=206 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
10 Participants
n=206 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
196 Participants
n=206 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
6 Participants
n=206 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
193 Participants
n=206 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
7 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
5 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
2 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
11 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
175 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
1 Participants
n=206 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
12 Participants
n=206 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
206 Participants
n=206 Participants
Plasma thiamine level
Low plasma thiamine
49 Participants
n=181 Participants • 181 with plasma thiamine biomarker results
Plasma thiamine level
Normal plasma thiamine
132 Participants
n=181 Participants • 181 with plasma thiamine biomarker results
Highly sensitive C-reactive protein
Normal C-reactive protein
38 Participants
n=125 Participants • Only 125 participants had C-reactive protein lab results
Highly sensitive C-reactive protein
Elevated C-reactive protein
87 Participants
n=125 Participants • Only 125 participants had C-reactive protein lab results

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline

Population: Enrollees with plasma thiamine levels

The percentage of enrolled non-alcoholic veterans who have thiamine deficiency (defined as low plasma thiamine levels) out of the total number of enrolled Veterans with plasma thiamine results.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Enrolled Veterans With Plasma Thiamine Results
n=181 Participants
Enrolled Hospitalized non-alcoholic Veterans with plasma thiamine results.
Percentage of Participants With Thiamine Deficiency (Low Plasma Thiamine) Out of Total Number of Enrolled Veterans With Plasma Thiamine Results
49 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline

Population: Participants with results of both plasma thiamine level and C-reactive protein who were thiamine deficient were analyzed to determine if there was an association between thiamine deficiency and increased inflammation.

Determine if there is an association between thiamine deficiency defined by low plasma thiamine levels, and elevated highly sensitive C-reactive protein indicating inflammation.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Enrolled Veterans With Plasma Thiamine Results
n=33 Participants
Enrolled Hospitalized non-alcoholic Veterans with plasma thiamine results.
Association of Thiamine Deficiency and Inflammation
Normal CRP
8 Participants
Association of Thiamine Deficiency and Inflammation
Elevated CRP
25 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Follow up at 4 weeks

Thiamine deficiency symptoms and physical exam findings of ophthalmoplegia, muscle weakness, and ataxia received a score before thiamine repletion and after. Each component was scaled equally and combined into a composite score before and after treatment. The investigators used receiver operator characteristic analysis to find the value of plasma thiamine concentration below which most individuals improved with specificity of 0.5 or higher. The resulting analysis showed the value of plasma thiamine in nmol/L resulting in a specificity of 0.5 or higher which was determined to be the optimal cut point of plasma thiamine concentration to identify individuals with clinically relevant thiamine deficiency.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Enrolled Veterans With Plasma Thiamine Results
n=60 Participants
Enrolled Hospitalized non-alcoholic Veterans with plasma thiamine results.
Cut Point Analysis of Plasma Thiamine Concentration (Nanomoles/Liter) Below Which Most Participants Composite Thiamine Deficiency Symptom Score Improved With Thiamine Repletion
8.5 nanomoles/liter

Adverse Events

Hospitalized Non-alcoholic Veterans

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 1 other events
Deaths: 23 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Hospitalized Non-alcoholic Veterans
n=181 participants at risk
Veterans with full admission to the hospital who did not have alcohol use disorder, lived within 70 miles of the hospital, were able to read back key portions of the consent, and who were not taking thiamine supplements.
Gastrointestinal disorders
Diarrhea
0.55%
1/181 • two months

Additional Information

Elisabeth Mates, MD,PhD, Principal investigator

VA Sierra Nevada Healthcare System

Phone: 775-786-7200

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place