B Vitamins - Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

B VITAMINS – THIAMIN (VITAMIN B1)

In this article we will explore about thiamin (Vitamin B-1) in detail as below:

Thiamin (Vitamin B-1): The heart, liver, kidney, and brain all contain high amounts of thiamin. The body needs thiamin for:

• breaking down sugar (carbohydrate) molecules from food
• creating certain neurotransmitters (brain chemicals)
• producing fatty acids
• synthesizing certain hormones

Foods with thiamin: Thiamin is present in:

• whole grains and fortified bread, cereal, pasta, and rice
• pork
• trout
• mussels
• acorn squash
• legumes, such as black beans and soybeans
• seeds
• nuts

Thiamin deficiency is not common but, certain groups of people may not get enough thiamin, as well as:

• those with alcohol dependence
• older adults
• those with HIV or AIDS
• those with diabetes
• those who have heart failure
• those who have had bariatric surgery

Symptoms of thiamin deficiency: People with a thiamin deficiency may experience a range of symptoms as below:

• Early symptoms of thiamin deficiency are vague. They include fatigue, irritability, poor memory, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, abdominal discomfort, and weight loss.
• Eventually, a severe thiamin deficiency (beriberi) may develop, characterized by nerve, heart, and brain abnormalities. Different forms of beriberi cause different symptoms like:

     Dry beriberi - Nerve and muscle abnormalities develop. Symptoms include a             prickling (pins-and-needles) sensation in the toes, a burning sensation in the             feet that is particularly severe at night, and leg cramps and pain. Muscles                 may become weak and waste away (atrophy). If the deficiency worsens, the             arms are also affected.

     Wet beriberi - Heart abnormalities develop. The heart pumps more blood                 and beats faster. Blood vessels widen (dilate), making the skin warm and                 moist. Because the heart cannot continue to work at this level, heart failure           eventually develops. As a result, fluid accumulates in the legs (as edema)                 and in the lungs (as congestion), and blood pressure may fall, sometimes                 leading to shock and death.

     Brain abnormalities - Thiamin deficiency causes brain abnormalities                       primarily in people with alcohol use disorder. Brain abnormalities may be                 present without causing any symptoms until something happens to worsen               the thiamin deficiency, such as binge drinking alcohol. Brain abnormalities               can also cause symptoms after a person with alcohol use disorder is given                 carbohydrates intravenously. Symptoms occur because these extra                           carbohydrates further increase thiamin requirements. These brain                           abnormalities are called the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which has two               parts. 

    (a) Wernicke encephalopathy causes confusion, apathy, difficulty                            walking, and eye problems, including involuntary eye movements                            (nystagmus) and partial paralysis of the muscles that move the eyes. If                    Wernicke encephalopathy is not promptly treated, symptoms may worsen,                resulting in coma and even death.

    (b) Korsakoff psychosis causes memory loss for recent events, confusion,                and a tendency to make up facts to fill in gaps in memories (confabulation).

    Infantile beriberi - This form occurs in infants (usually by age 3 to 4 weeks) who      are breastfed by a mother who has a thiamin deficiency. In these infants, heart        failure may occur suddenly. They may lose their voice (aphonia) to some degree,      and they may not have certain reflexes.

Diagnosis of Thiamin Deficiency

• By Physical examination.
• Relief of symptoms when thiamin supplements are taken.

The diagnosis of thiamin deficiency is based on symptoms and the results of a physical examination, with emphasis on examination of the heart and nervous system.

Tests to confirm the diagnosis are not readily available. Blood tests to measure electrolyte levels are usually done to exclude other possible causes of the symptoms.

The diagnosis is confirmed if thiamin supplements relieve symptoms.

Treatment of Thiamin Deficiency

• Thiamin supplements

All forms of thiamin deficiency are treated with thiamin (thiamine) supplements. They are usually given by mouth. They are given intravenously if symptoms are severe. Because thiamin deficiency often occurs with other B vitamin deficiencies, multivitamins are usually given for several weeks. People are encouraged to eat healthily and are advised to consume 1 to 2 times the daily recommended intake of vitamins. They should not drink any alcohol.

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a medical emergency, is treated with high doses of thiamin given intravenously or by injection into a muscle (intramuscularly) for several days. Use of alcohol should be stopped.

When people who may have a thiamin deficiency, particularly people with alcohol use disorder, must be fed intravenously, they are given thiamin supplements first. These intravenous solutions contain glucose. Because thiamin is needed to process (metabolize) glucose, glucose may trigger or worsen symptoms of thiamin deficiency. Giving them thiamin supplements first can prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome from developing or worsening.

With treatment, most people recover completely. In some people with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, some brain damage is permanent. Symptoms of beriberi may recur years after apparent recovery.

Was this article helpful?

YES OR NO

Disclaimer

The content of this article is from various medical information, compiled for you to be alert as a knowledge base information and not as a medical or clinical advice. Therefore, do not use this article for self-medication or any other purpose or purposes. The contents of all our articles or posts in any media are just for notification as a precautionary measure. We strictly encourage you to consult your health care providers (doctor, registered dietitian, pharmacist, etc.) for any medication or any other medical or clinical advice or treatments in the best interest of your inclusive health. Any mention in this publication of a specific product or service, or recommendation from an organization or professional society, does not represent an endorsement by srsphysicians.com, Inc. or its affiliates of that product, service, or expert advice.