Vitamin B-1 (Thiamine)

Thiamine is a vitamin, also called vitamin B1. Vitamin B1 is found in many foods including yeast, cereal grains, beans, nuts, and meat. It is often used in combination with other B vitamins, and found in many vitamin B complex products. Vitamin B complexes generally include vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin/niacinamide), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), and folic acid. However, some products do not contain all of these ingredients and some may include others, such as biotin, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), choline bitartrate, and inositol.

People take thiamine for conditions related to low levels of thiamine (thiamine deficiency syndromes), including beriberi and inflammation of the nerves (neuritis) associated with pellagra or pregnancy.

Thiamine is also used for digestive problems including poor appetite, ulcerative colitis, and ongoing diarrhea.

Thiamine is also used for AIDS and boosting the immune system, diabetic pain, heart disease, alcoholism, aging, a type of brain damage called cerebellar syndrome, canker sores, vision problems such as cataracts and glaucoma, and motion sickness. Other uses include preventing cervical cancer and progression of kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Some people use thiamine for maintaining a positive mental attitude; enhancing learning abilities; increasing energy; fighting stress; and preventing memory loss, including Alzheimer's disease.

Healthcare providers give thiamine shots for a memory disorder called Wernicke's encephalopathy syndrome, other thiamine deficiency syndromes in critically ill people, alcohol withdrawal, and coma.

How does it work?

Thiamine is required by our bodies to properly use carbohydrates. It also helps maintain proper nerve function.

Metabolic disorders.
Brain disorder due to thiamine deficiency (Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome).
Cataracts.
Kidney disease in people with diabetes.
Painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea).
Preventing cervical cancer.
Shingles (herpes zoster).
Prediabetes.
Aging.
Alcoholism.
Brain conditions.
Canker sores.
Chronic diarrhea.
Heart disease.
Poor appetite.
Stomach problems.
Stress.
Ulcerative colitis.

By Mouth:

For adults with low levels of thiamine: the usual dose of thiamine is 5-30 mg daily in either a single dose or divided doses for one month. The typical dose for severe deficiency can be up to 300 mg per day.

For metabolic disorders: 10-20 mg of thiamine daily is recommended, although 600-4000 mg daily in divided doses may be needed for Leigh's disease.

For reducing the risk of getting cataracts: a daily dietary intake of approximately 10 mg of thiamine has been used.

For kidney disease in people with diabetes: 100 mg of thiamine three times daily for 3 months has been used.

For painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea): 100 mg of thiamine, alone or along with 500 mg of fish oil, has been used daily for up to 90 days.

Thiamine is SAFE when taken by mouth in appropriate amounts, although rare allergic reactions and skin irritation have occurred. It is also SAFE when given appropriately intravenously (by IV) or as a shot into the muscle by a healthcare provider. Thiamine shots are an FDA-approved prescription product.

Thiamine might not properly enter the body in some people who have liver problems, drink a lot of alcohol, or have other conditions.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Thiamine is SAFE for pregnant or breast-feeding women when taken in the recommended amount of 1.4 mg daily. Not enough is known about the safety of using larger amounts during pregnancy or breast-feeding.

Alcoholism and a liver disease called cirrhosis: Alcoholics and people with cirrhosis often have low levels of thiamine. Nerve pain in alcoholism can be worsened by thiamine deficiency. These people might require thiamine supplements.

Critical illness: People that are critically ill such as those that had surgery might have low levels of thiamine. These people might require thiamine supplements.

Hemodialysis: People undergoing hemodialysis treatments might have low levels of thiamine. They might require thiamine supplements.

Syndromes in which it is difficult for the body to absorb nutrients (malabsorption syndromes): People with malabsorption syndromes may have low levels of thiamine. The might require thiamine supplements.