Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) is a coenzyme used by the body to metabolize food for energy and to maintain proper heart and nerve function. It is used to digest and extract energy from the foods you eat by turning nutrients into useable energy in the form of “ATP” (adenosine triphosphate) which is the body’s main energy-carrying molecule within the mitochondria of cells.

Symptoms Linked to B1 (Thiamin) Deficiency:

  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Mental changes such as apathy or depression
  • Confusion
  • Decrease in short-term memory
  • Colitis
  • Ongoing digestive problems such as diarrhea
  • Muscle Weakness
  • Nerve damage
  • Nerve inflammation (neuritis)
  • Anorexia or rapid weight loss
  • Poor appetite
  • Cardiovascular effects such as an enlarged heart

Health Problems Associated to B1 (Thiamin) Deficiency:

  • Autism – B1 deficiency linked to delayed language development. Supplementation may benefit autistic patients.
  • Fatigue – B vitamins are necessary for converting food into energy. Cofactors in the mitochondrial respiratory chain include B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12 and Folate.
  • Fibromyalgia – B1 deficiency mimics fibromyalgia symptoms including serotonin depletion (decreased pain threshold), a decrease in repair enzymes (muscle soreness), and poor energy production (muscle fatigue).
  • Insomnia – In clinical trials, B1 supplementation of healthy individuals that had marginal B1 deficiency improved their sleep.
  • Pain – Vitamins B1, B2, B2, and B12 produce a dose dependent decrease in various kinds of pain (heat, pressure, chemical. They increase sensitivity to pain meds. Their effect is likely mediated through serotonergic neurotransmitters.
  • Sports Nutrition – B vitamins are cofactors for efficient energy metabolism from food. Synthesizing red blood cells require Folate (B9) and B12. Deficiencies in various B vitamins may slow healing in sports injuries.

How to Acquire B1 (Thiamin):

  • Sunflower Seeds
  • Macadamia Nuts
  • Black, Navy, White, Pinto and Mung Beans
  • Lentils
  • Beef Liver
  • Asparagus
  • Brussels Sprouts

Clinical Updates on B1 (Thiamin)