If a patient presents with fatigue and elevated blood pyruvate despite normal oxygen levels, which vitamin deficiency should be suspected, given its role in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex?

💡 Explanation

Thiamine is a crucial cofactor for pyruvate dehydrogenase; therefore, a thiamine deficiency impairs the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA, causing pyruvate to accumulate and resulting in fatigue because oxidative energy production is reduced rather than other vitamin deficiencies impacting different metabolic pathways.

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