"Thiamine is crucial for mitochondrial energy production because of its key role in the gatekeeping and completion of the Krebs cycle and the so-called pentose phosphate pathway, which produces NADPH for biosynthetic pathways and ribose 5-phosphate, a precursor of nucleotides. Furthermore, by maintaining NADPH thiamine protects against oxidative damage. Its postulated role in reducing oxalate excretion was the one highlighted in the study by Marik and coworkers.
Thiamine deficiency may occur in about one-third of septic patients4 and is elicited by the overwhelming need for it during the hypermetabolic response in sepsis."
