Effects of thiamine deficiency on the secretion of insulin and the metabolism of glucose in isolated rat pancreatic islets.

Isolated pancreatic islets from thiamine deficient rats secrete less insulin. The secretion of insulin in response to glucose and tolbutamide is also decreased in these islets. Glucose and pyruvate oxidations to CO2, were decreased in the islets isolated from thiamine deficient rats. In the islets from control but not from thiamine deficient rats the oxidations of glucose and pyruvate to CO2 were increased by tolbutamide. The results suggest that in thiamine deficiency the insulin secretion is impaired due to the decreased glucose oxidation.