Wernicke's encephalopathy is a neurological disorder caused by thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency characterized by vertigo, ataxia, and mental confusion. Wernicke's encephalopathy has a causative association with alcoholism but recently there has been an increased prevalence also in other clinical conditions. In literature potentially fatal Wernicke's encephalopathy onset in an advanced achalasia...

The necessity of zinc in rat nutrition was first shown conclusively by Todd, Elvehjem, and Hart (1). In this and in subsequent work a high carbohydrate, zinc-low ration has been used. The possibility exists that the zinc requirement of the rat may be influenced by rations in which fat or protein furnishes the chief source of calories. A physiological relationship between zinc and vitamin B1 has...