Hypomagnesaemia and its potential impact on thiamine utilisation in patients with alcohol misuse at the Alice Springs Hospital.

Introduction And Aims: Alcohol rapidly reduces thiamine among alcohol-dependent individuals. Poor diet and alcohol's impact on absorption, storage, activation and excretion of thiamine are thought to be the mechanisms. Previous literature identifies magnesium as an important cofactor in thiamine utilisation, which might also be compromised in alcohol dependent patients.