Thiamine, gastrointestinal beriberi and acetylcholine signaling
Research has highlighted numerous detrimental consequences of thiamine deficiency on digestive function. These range from impaired gastric and intestinal motility to aberrant changes in pancreatic exocrine function, gastric acidity and disturbances in gut barrier integrity and inflammation. Thiamine...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1541054/full |
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| author | Elliot Overton Alina Emelyanova Victoria I. Bunik Victoria I. Bunik Victoria I. Bunik |
| author_facet | Elliot Overton Alina Emelyanova Victoria I. Bunik Victoria I. Bunik Victoria I. Bunik |
| author_sort | Elliot Overton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research has highlighted numerous detrimental consequences of thiamine deficiency on digestive function. These range from impaired gastric and intestinal motility to aberrant changes in pancreatic exocrine function, gastric acidity and disturbances in gut barrier integrity and inflammation. Thiamine and its pharmacological forms, as a primary or adjunctive therapy, have been shown to improve symptoms such as nausea, constipation, dysphagia and intestinal dysmotility, in both humans and animals. This review aims to explore molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic action of thiamine in gastrointestinal dysfunction. Our analysis demonstrates that thiamine insufficiency restricted to the gastrointestinal system, i.e., lacking well-known symptoms of dry and wet beriberi, may arise through (i) a disbalance between the nutrient influx and efflux in the gastrointestinal system due to increased demands of thiamine by the organism; (ii) direct exposure of the gastrointestinal system to oral drugs and gut microbiome, targeting thiamine-dependent metabolism in the gastrointestinal system in the first line; (iii) the involvement of thiamine in acetylcholine (ACh) signaling and cholinergic activity in the enteric nervous system and non-neuronal cells of the gut and pancreas, employing both the coenzyme and non-coenzyme actions of thiamine. The coenzyme action relies on the requirement of the thiamine coenzyme form – thiamine diphosphate – for the production of energy and acetylcholine (ACh). The non-coenzyme action involves participation of thiamine and/or derivatives, including thiamine triphosphate, in the regulation of ACh synaptic function, consistent with the early data on thiamine as a co-mediator of ACh in neuromuscular synapses, and in allosteric action on metabolic enzymes. By examining the available evidence with a focus on the gastrointestinal system, we deepen the understanding of thiamine’s contribution to overall gastrointestinal health, highlighting important implications of thiamine-dependent mechanisms in functional gastrointestinal disorders. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8558ca0339ab4a5092e4b247ead96f92 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-861X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-8558ca0339ab4a5092e4b247ead96f922025-08-20T02:16:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-04-011210.3389/fnut.2025.15410541541054Thiamine, gastrointestinal beriberi and acetylcholine signalingElliot Overton0Alina Emelyanova1Victoria I. Bunik2Victoria I. Bunik3Victoria I. Bunik4Objective Nutrients, Wareham, United KingdomFaculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, RussiaFaculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, RussiaBelozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, RussiaDepartment of Biochemistry, Sechenov University, Moscow, RussiaResearch has highlighted numerous detrimental consequences of thiamine deficiency on digestive function. These range from impaired gastric and intestinal motility to aberrant changes in pancreatic exocrine function, gastric acidity and disturbances in gut barrier integrity and inflammation. Thiamine and its pharmacological forms, as a primary or adjunctive therapy, have been shown to improve symptoms such as nausea, constipation, dysphagia and intestinal dysmotility, in both humans and animals. This review aims to explore molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic action of thiamine in gastrointestinal dysfunction. Our analysis demonstrates that thiamine insufficiency restricted to the gastrointestinal system, i.e., lacking well-known symptoms of dry and wet beriberi, may arise through (i) a disbalance between the nutrient influx and efflux in the gastrointestinal system due to increased demands of thiamine by the organism; (ii) direct exposure of the gastrointestinal system to oral drugs and gut microbiome, targeting thiamine-dependent metabolism in the gastrointestinal system in the first line; (iii) the involvement of thiamine in acetylcholine (ACh) signaling and cholinergic activity in the enteric nervous system and non-neuronal cells of the gut and pancreas, employing both the coenzyme and non-coenzyme actions of thiamine. The coenzyme action relies on the requirement of the thiamine coenzyme form – thiamine diphosphate – for the production of energy and acetylcholine (ACh). The non-coenzyme action involves participation of thiamine and/or derivatives, including thiamine triphosphate, in the regulation of ACh synaptic function, consistent with the early data on thiamine as a co-mediator of ACh in neuromuscular synapses, and in allosteric action on metabolic enzymes. By examining the available evidence with a focus on the gastrointestinal system, we deepen the understanding of thiamine’s contribution to overall gastrointestinal health, highlighting important implications of thiamine-dependent mechanisms in functional gastrointestinal disorders.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1541054/fullthiaminegastrointestinal beriberiacetylcholineintestinal ThDP-dependent enzymesintestinal transport of thiamineintestinal metabolism of thiamine |
| spellingShingle | Elliot Overton Alina Emelyanova Victoria I. Bunik Victoria I. Bunik Victoria I. Bunik Thiamine, gastrointestinal beriberi and acetylcholine signaling Frontiers in Nutrition thiamine gastrointestinal beriberi acetylcholine intestinal ThDP-dependent enzymes intestinal transport of thiamine intestinal metabolism of thiamine |
| title | Thiamine, gastrointestinal beriberi and acetylcholine signaling |
| title_full | Thiamine, gastrointestinal beriberi and acetylcholine signaling |
| title_fullStr | Thiamine, gastrointestinal beriberi and acetylcholine signaling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thiamine, gastrointestinal beriberi and acetylcholine signaling |
| title_short | Thiamine, gastrointestinal beriberi and acetylcholine signaling |
| title_sort | thiamine gastrointestinal beriberi and acetylcholine signaling |
| topic | thiamine gastrointestinal beriberi acetylcholine intestinal ThDP-dependent enzymes intestinal transport of thiamine intestinal metabolism of thiamine |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1541054/full |
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