Vitamins in the Body: Importance and Effects

Vitamins in the Body: Importance and Effects

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Vitamin B1, also called thiamine, is a B complex vitamin. It is found in many foods and is vitally important to keeping a body operating properly.

Thiamine is involved in many body functions including the nervous system, heart and muscles. It is also important in the flow of electrolytes in and out of nerve and muscle cells, enzymatic processes and carbohydrate metabolism.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) sources

Food sources of thiamine are beef, liver, dried milk, nuts, oats, oranges, pork, eggs, seeds, legumes, peas and yeast. Foods are also fortified with thiamine. Some foods that are often fortified with B1 are rice, pasta, breads, cereals and flour.

Health benefits of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Thiamine is used to treat people who have heart disease, metabolic disorders, aging, canker sores, cataracts, glaucoma and motion sickness. This vitamin is important for a wide range of brain functions and ailments.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) deficiency

Severe shortage of vitamin B1 (thiamine) causes complications involving the nervous system, brain, muscles, heart and gastrointestinal system.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) deficiency causes disorders such as Beriberi and Wernicke- Korsakoff syndrome. Beriberi can cause abnormal nerve function, heart failure and swelling in the legs, while Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome can cause memory loss, confusion and difficulty with balance. These problems are most common in alcoholics. Drinking too much alcohol makes it harder for the body to absorb and store thiamine. In many cases, alcoholism treatment includes B1 therapy.

Beriberi can also be passed down through genes. The elderly are also susceptible to thiamine deficiency. This is because their bodies have a harder time absorbing the vitamin.

The use of diuretics is another cause for B1 deficiency. Since B1 is water soluble and is not stored in the body, diuretics, which primary use is to flush water from the body, also flushes away vitamins like thiamine.

Symptoms of vitamin B1 deficiency

The symptoms of vitamin B1 deficiency are many and typically are related to the nervous, muscular and gastrointestinal systems.  This include; depression, emotional instability, uncooperative behavior, fearfulness, agitation, weakness, dizziness, insomnia, memory loss, pain sensitivity, peripheral neuropathy, sonophobia, backache, muscular atrophy, myalgia, nausea, vomiting and constipation.