Abstract
It is considered that dietary vitamin deficiencies are very rare nowadays. However, we have recently found 8 children with thiamine deficiency (beriberi), and 14 cases of multiple carboxylase deficiency because of dietary biotin deficit. The children with "beriberi", ranging from 1y0m to 2y6m of age, had had an excess volume (1 to 3 L/day) of soft drinks that contain a large amount of carbohydrate, and showed an increase in lactic acid, pyruvic acid, branched-chain 2-ketoacids, and 2-ketoglutaric acid excretion by urinary organic acid analysis using GC/MS. On the other hand, children with "multiple carboxylase deficiency" had been treated with special formula for allergy, which contained only 1/4 biotin compared to breast milk. These vitamin deficiencies are caused under the modern life style, not by malnutrition that used to be observed in the past. Therefore, attention should be paid for these disorders. It is considered that dietary vitamin deficiencies are very rare nowadays. Recently, however, we have found 8 children with thiamine deficiency (beriberi) and 14 cases of multiple carboxylase deficiency induced by dietary biotin deficiency. The children with "beriberi", ranging from one year and 0 month to 2 years and 6 months of age, who had taken an excess volume (1 to 3 L/day) of soft drinks containing a large amount of carbohydrate, showed increased urinary excretion of lactic acid, pyruvic acid, branched-chain 2-ketoacids, and 2-ketoglutaric acid when urinary organic acid analysis was conducted using GC/MS. On the other hand, children with "multiple carboxylase deficiency" had been treated with the special formula containing only 1/4 of the biotin content in breast milk for allergy. These vitamin deficiencies occur through the modern life style, but not through malnutrition observed in the past. Therefore, attention should be paid on these disorders.
