Abstract
The bioavailability of vitamin B_1 in liquid preparations marketed for internal use as the so-called "Drink" was investigated in six healthy volunteers after oral administration by a cross over trial. The vitamin B_1 concentration in the blood after intake of the drink containing thiamin tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD) rose markedly and more rapidly than did after taking drinks containing thiamin nitrate. Vitamin B_1 excretion in the urine after taking the drink containing 5mg of TTFD was more than twice as much as that after taking a drink containing 5 or 10mg of thiamin nitrate. The bioavailability was compared between the drink and sugar-coated tablets of TTFD. The peak vitamin B_1 concentration was obtained 30 minutes after taking the TTFD drink and 1.5 hours after taking the sugar-coated tablet of TTFD. The peak value was the same for both preparations. The amount of vitamin B_1 excreted in the urine for 0-3 hours or 0-6 hours after taking the drink was significantly larger than that for the sugar-coated tablet.
