Which condition is associated with Vitamin B1 deficiency and may be corrected nutritionally?

Which condition is associated with Vitamin B1 deficiency and may be corrected nutritionally?

• A. Korsakoff's psychosis
• B. Wernicke's disease
• C. Cirrhosis
• D. Alcoholic dementia

Answer: (B)

Vitamin B1 deficiency disrupts brain energy metabolism, leading to Wernicke's disease, the acute condition most directly linked to thiamine deficiency and treatable with nutritional therapy. When thiamine is given promptly, symptoms such as confusion and coordination issues can improve or reverse, especially if caught early. Korsakoff's psychosis is a related but more chronic, often memory-focused consequence that tends to be less reversible with nutrition alone. Cirrhosis and alcoholic dementia are not classic thiamine-deficiency conditions and are not primarily corrected by B1 repletion. Thus, the best match is Wernicke's disease.

Vitamin B1 deficiency disrupts brain energy metabolism, leading to Wernicke's disease, the acute condition most directly linked to thiamine deficiency and treatable with nutritional therapy. When thiamine is given promptly, symptoms such as confusion and coordination issues can improve or reverse, especially if caught early. Korsakoff's psychosis is a related but more chronic, often memory-focused consequence that tends to be less reversible with nutrition alone. Cirrhosis and alcoholic dementia are not classic thiamine-deficiency conditions and are not primarily corrected by B1 repletion. Thus, the best match is Wernicke's disease.