Abstract
Investigation was made on the chemical nature of thiamine-active compounds in the liver following oral administration of α-hydroxyalkyl-2-thiamine (DL-, D-, L-hydroxyethyl, DL-hydroxypropyl and DL-hydroxyisobutyl) to thiamine-deficient rats.
Bioautographical study with Lactobacillus fermenti revealed that the greater part of thiamine activity two hours after administration is accounted for by thiamine and it was concluded that this class of compound is readily converted to and exists as thiamine in the liver. No difference was observed between D-and L-isomer of hydroxyethylthiamine in the ease of this conversion.
Similar experiments with normal, healthy rats failed to produce definite evidence for the presence of hydroxyethylthiamine in the liver and kidney.
