Consecutive determination of serum vitamins B1, B6, B9, C and E levels in critical patients

Nutrition plays a major role in the treatment of patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU). Micronutrients have important functions in carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism, which are necessary for energy production (1). In critically ill patients, micronutrient deficiencies occur as a result of inadequate intake, inadequate absorption, increased requirement, or increased catabolism. There is a risk of micronutrient loss in critically ill patients receiving burns, trauma, or continuous renal replacement therapy (2). Early detection and prevention of micronutrient deficiencies is important for the life expectancy of patients (3). The aim of our study is to evaluate the changes in vitamin B1, B6, B9 and E levels on consecutive days in critically ill patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit. Thirty patients aged 18 years and older and hospitalized in the ICU for 48 h or more were included in the study. Demographic characteristics, ICU scores (SOFA, GCS, APACHE II, mNUTRIC, Charlson Comorbidity Index) and nutritional information of the patients were recorded. Blood samples were taken for vitamin determination during the patients' stay (0, 3, 7 days). High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method for the determination of vitamins B1, B6 and E; Electrochemilumi-nassence Immunoassay (ECLIA) method was used for the determination of vitamin B9. The general and demographic characteristics of the patients and their CRP and procalcitonin values are shown in Table 1. The reasons for hospitalization of the patients in the intensive care unit are shown in Fig. 1. The vitamin levels of the patients followed on consecutive days are shown in Table 2 and the percentages of vitamin deficiencies are shown in Fig. 2. As a result of the study, a decrease in plasma vitamin B1 level was observed in adult critically ill patients followed up in the ICU on consecutive days (p > 0.05); plasma vitamin B6 level, serum vitamin B9 level and plasma vitamin E level increased (p > 0.05).