Common Causes Of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

Eating Disorders

An eating disorder is characterized by intense disruptions in an individual's eating habits and behaviors in addition to the thoughts and emotions that drive it. The most common types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and bulimia nervosa. The long term deprivation of nutrients that results from an eating disorder can deplete thiamine in the body, leading to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. With eating disorders, the malnutrition is often so severe that the fats and minerals needed to correctly metabolize compounds like thiamine are not present. This means that not only is thiamine itself not provided to the body, but the body would likely not be able to absorb it even if it were provided. One study estimated at least one-third of all patients hospitalized for complications of an eating disorder had exhibited deficient levels of thiamine.

Continue reading to discover more information about the causes of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.