Big Belgian step towards a more effective way of treating sepsis

Sepsis is the result of the immune system overreacting in case of an infection, potentially leading to organ failure, the need to remove limbs, and possibly fatality if it isn’t treated on time. 

The so-declared breakthrough expands on previous findings in which the researchers discovered that sepsis involves an excessive build-up of lactic acid and a greater difficulty to break it down. Enter vitamin B. Turns out these people going through sepsis have a severe lack of vitamin B1 in their mitochondria (say it with us: mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell). The solution is self-explanatory: simply give sepsis patients vitamin B1, right? Well – yes and no. The researchers also discovered that the treatment works better if you add glucose to the mix. Do we hear you thinking: a little bit of sugar helps the medicine go down? 

While it is potentially a huge advancement, the researchers themselves have said that more knowledge is needed, as this was discovered in smaller animals and not humans. Even so, it is just the latest formidable discovery by a talented team of Belgian researchers.