Which type of beriberi is associated with dilated cardiomyopathy?

Wet beriberi is characterized by its association with cardiovascular symptoms, including dilated cardiomyopathy. This condition occurs due to a deficiency in thiamine (vitamin B1), which plays a crucial role in carbohydrate metabolism and energy production in the body. In wet beriberi, the lack of thiamine leads to significant cardiovascular changes, such as edema, heart failure, and enlarged heart chambers, resulting in dilated cardiomyopathy.

The heart's inability to function effectively due to the underlying metabolic disturbance can lead to an overload of fluid in the body, manifesting as peripheral edema. This condition exemplifies how nutritional deficiencies can have severe impacts on the cardiovascular system, particularly when there is an increase in caloric intake without commensurate vitamin intake.

Other forms of beriberi, such as dry beriberi, are primarily associated with neurological deficits rather than cardiovascular symptoms, while alcoholic beriberi involves thiamine deficiency due to malnutrition and can also feature neuropathy and less prominent cardiovascular effects. Age-related beriberi is not a recognized clinical type and does not specifically correlate with known pathophysiological changes typically associated with thiamine deficiency. Thus, wet beriberi stands out as the clinical correlate to