Abstract

THIAMINE, A GUARDIAN OF THE GENOME AND OF THE ENDOTHELIUM, WHICH DISPLAYS IMPORTANT CONGRUENT MECHANISMS WITH GHRELIN, EXTINGUISHES POST-COVID-19-RELATED FATIGUE

Dr. S. E. Oriaifo*, Dr. D. O. Oriaifo, Dr. R. A. Oriaifo, Prof. A. Asalu and Prof. B. Adegboro

ABSTRACT

The allure with the antioxidant thiamine or vitamin B I, which possesses a potential thiol-reactive (RSH) group, stems not only from its co-enzyme role in metabolic homeostasis, its non-coenzyme functions that are rapidly expanding, such as effect on hepcidin but also for the important effects of its analogues/conjugates and even antivitamins. Thiamine‟s interaction with the master regulator of transcription, p53 protein, its congruent roles with the homeostatic force of ghrelin in gut-liver-brain communication, neural mechanisms, endothelial protection, iron regulation, and immunoregulation make thiamine or derivatives credible pharmacotherapeutic targets. Side-by-side with calorie-restriction and back-to-back with exercise- training, judicious supplementary thiamine especially in the elderly deserves frontline role in the medical armamentarium against non-communicable diseases such as obesity and even communicable diseases such as COVID-19 and tuberculosis. In the present report, the role of thiamine in attenuation of post-COVID-19 fatigue was evaluated. Compared to placebo, thiamine supplementation was found to significantly (P < 0.05) positively impact these measures of fatigue in post-COVID-19 volunteers: Timed-Up-And-Go test, fatigue severity scale (FSS), modified fatigue impact scale (MFIS), minimental scale examination (MMSE) and prothrombin time. Beneficial role of thiamine or analogues on fatigue and whole-body homeostasis is compelling enough for us to suggest trial on a larger scale, especially for elucidation of regional or demographic requirement for or state-specific effect of this vitamin/analogues.

Keywords: Thiamine, Derivatives, p53 protein, Ghrelin, Endothelium, Fatigue.