Vitamin B1 benefits

30 August 2023
Dr/Liza Nasser
Vitamin B1 benefits

Vitamin B1 benefits

Vitamin B1, also known as “thiamine,” is a water-soluble vitamin. Water-soluble vitamins are transported through the bloodstream. Everything that the body does not use is eliminated in the urine.

B1 is used as a catalyst in the process of converting carbohydrates (starches), as are all B complex vitamins. Enables the body to use carbohydrates as energy.

Thiamine is essential for glucose metabolism and nerve, muscle and heart function. People may need a nutritional supplement containing theabamine in addition to their diet to obtain a sufficient percentage of B1 vitamins to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the treatment period, for example during dialysis,...

- Uses of thiamine:

Thiamine is important in maintaining overall good health. Thiamine, or vitamin B1, deficiency may be underdiagnosed and linked to poor health outcomes. The body uses thiamine to obtain energy for cell growth and to support body functions.

Thiamine helps certain enzymes in the body that are used in glucose metabolism. This makes thiamine levels important in gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases.

For this reason, a deficiency may lead to a deficiency of certain enzymes. Severe deficiency can lead to decreased production of certain enzymes and lead to problems with brain function

The use of thiamine nutritional supplements must not be individual and must be under the supervision of a nutritionist or the doctor supervising the case.

- Diabetes and thiamine:

People with diabetes may be at risk for thiamine deficiency. The body needs thiamine to keep blood glucose levels stable, so this can lead to complications in people with diabetes. Thiamine may also help prevent cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes.

- Heart attacks and thiamine:

People with heart failure (the heart does not pump enough blood to meet the body's needs) have been shown to have lower levels of thiamine. Being older, having other health conditions, or not being able to get enough vitamins and minerals through the diet. could contribute to this problem.

Alzheimer's disease and thiamine:

Whether taking thiamine supplements in people with Alzheimer's disease (a progressive condition that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior) may be beneficial is still being studied.

A placebo-controlled trial in people with Alzheimer's disease showed that supplementing with a form of thiamine is safe. The researchers used several tools to measure the cognitive levels (thinking and memory) of people in the experiment over time. They then compared those who took thiamine and those who did not.

The study found that mental decline was less in those who took thiamine. The study was small, and the authors called for a larger trial, but they recommend that thiamine supplements may be beneficial in Alzheimer's disease.



Thiamine and food:

High concentrations of vitamin B1 are found in:

· Breakfast cereals fortified with thiamin

Yeast _

· Beef

· Nuts

· Whole grains

· Legumes

· Vegetables (potatoes, turnips)

· Thiamine is also found in (Lowry's peanut butter).

Cheese, chicken, and apples do not contain thiamine.

Heating, cooking, processing, and boiling foods in water destroys thiamine. Since vitamin B1 is water-soluble, it dissolves in cooking water. White rice contains only one-tenth of the thiamine found in brown rice.


- How much vitamin B1 does the body need?

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for oral thiamine is 1.2 mg for males and 1.1 mg for females over 18 years of age.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women of any age should consume 1.4 mg each day if using as a dietary supplement.

The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) of the National Institutes of Health states that one serving of fortified breakfast cereal provides 1.5 mg of thiamine, which is more than 100% of the daily recommended amount.

One slice of whole wheat bread contains 0.1 mg, which is equivalent to about 7% of the daily requirement.

Humans need a continuous supply of vitamin B1, because it is not stored in the body. It should be part of your daily healthy diet.


Symptoms of deficiency:

· Losing weight without following any diet.

· Lack of concentration.

· In late cases, some problems with the heart and blood vessels appear, such as heart enlargement.

- Who is at risk of vitamin B1 deficiency?

· People who suffer from malnutrition or follow an incorrect diet

· People who suffer from malabsorption

· People with immune system diseases

· Cancer patients

· Pregnant women

· People who have undergone obesity surgery

· Alcohol drinkers

- side effects:

Evidence does not support any harm from too much vitamin B1, but the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against using it in the form of dietary supplements.


-Interactions:

Tea and coffee contain "tannins," which are chemicals that may react with thiamine, making it harder to absorb.

Some chemicals found in raw shellfish and fish can destroy thiamine, which can lead to thiamine deficiency if eaten in large amounts. Cooking destroys these chemicals, but it also destroys thiamine.


- What happens if you take too much thiamine?

There is no maximum limit for thiamine supplements. When taken orally, it is not expected to cause adverse reactions at higher levels, but there are also no studies proving otherwise. It is still important to check with the dietitian or doctor supervising the case about the appropriate dosage.


You must be careful to eat foods that contain thiamine on a daily basis in a healthy diet, as it is absorbed periodically.



References:

www.webmd.com

www.medicalnewstoday.com

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/thiamin

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-b1-thiamine