This is a real-world medical entrance exam question, please give the true answer based on the question and selection. Topic name: Vitamins and Minerals, Subject name: Biochemistry
[{'content': 'Wernicke encephalopathy is due to acute dietary deficiency of: \nSelect and explain. \nA. Folic acid, B. Nicotinic acid, C. Thiamine, D. Pyridoxine', 'role': 'user'}, {'content': "Answer: C \nExplanation: Wernicke's (ophthalmoparesis, ataxia, and encephalopathy) and Korsakoff's(retrograde and anterograde amnesia) syndrome is common in alcoholics due to thiamine deficiency. Pathogenesis:- Thiamine is needed for oxidative decarboxylation reactions (pyruvate dehydrogenase and a-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase) that are very impoant for the metabolism of glucose. Thiamine deficiency produces a diffuse decrease in cerebral glucose utilization and results in mitochondrial damage. Glutamate accumulates due to impairment of a-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity and, in combination with the energy deficiency,may result in excitotoxic cell damage.", 'role': 'assistant'}]