Infantile beriberi

Disease in infants due to deficiency of thiamine.

This disease is well-known in undeveloped countries among malnourished infants but it is very rare in developed countries.

It can occur if a breastfeeding mother has an inadequate intake of thiamine.

The disease can also occur in infants who are fed a formula containing insufficient thiamine, as happened tragically in 2003 in Israel.

The culprit was Remedia Super Soya 1, a kosher, soy-based, dairy-free baby formula used mainly by ultraorthodox Jewish families.

The formula by error had inadequate thiamine.

Its use left at least 2 two children dead and 15 suffering from possible brain damage.

Thiamine is also known as vitamin B1