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Thiamin is an essential vitamin needed for energy production, brain health, heart health, muscle function, and mood. Thiamin deficiency is often considered a problem of the past, but today’s society and influences show otherwise. Signs that thiamin is lacking include trouble focusing, poor coordination, fatigue, fluid retention, and muscle pain. Thiamin is depleted by high carbohydrates and sugar, caffeine, alcohol, certain medications, and stress. Thiamin need today is much more prevalent than previously thought.
Thiamin is vitamin B1 and is a powerful anti-stress vitamin. We must get it every day from our foods, but most foods generally contain small amounts. Foods that have higher amounts include pork, organ meats, brewer’s yeast and molasses. Other foods have little to no thiamin present, prompting the food industry to add vitamin B1 to processed foods. Take a look at your cereal box and you will see thiamine mononitrate added. This is the synthetic form of vitamin B1 and the cheapest, most inactive form. This fortification is intended to prevent the most basic, severe disease state from lack of nourishment as set by the government RDA/RDI. The 1998 RDA recommendations are trivial 1.2 mg of thiamin per day for adults, just enough to prevent the ancient scourge beriberi.
Our body needs thiamin in order to function to protect it from life threatening beriberi or more subtle demands. Thiamin function impacts a number of enzyme systems in the body and often works together with other minerals, especially magnesium and other B vitamins. It is heavily involved with the breakdown of carbohydrates and branch chain amino acids turning them into energy. Thiamin is essential to the function of mitochondria and the Kreb’s cycle for energy production. These are fundamental processes to all tissues, but especially tissues that have high energy demands, i.e. the heart, brain/nervous system, and mitochondria.
Symptoms of thiamin deficiency are often vague, but there are many clues. Think nervous system (brain, peripheral, and autonomic nervous system) heart, and energy production. Symptoms include problems with fatigue, irritability, poor memory and difficulty thinking, sleep problems, problems with appetite, abdominal pain, and even some types of chest pain. Other symptoms may include problems with muscle aches, muscle weakness, and lactic acid build-up in muscles especially in the calf muscles, trouble focusing with vision, swelling in the legs, and increasing concerns with feeling tipsy, losing your balance, or frequently bumping into things.
Thiamin deficiency when it is severe enough can be linked with a number of disorders. Historically, it is thought of with dry beriberi, wet beriberi, and cerebral beriberi. Dry beriberi involves problems with the peripheral nervous system, the nerves outside of the brain. There may be trouble with peripheral neuropathy, i.e. numbness and tingling or burning in the feet especially at night. Sometimes there may be trouble rising from a squatting or sitting position to standing and trouble feeling vibration in the toes. Wet beriberi involves the same neurological symptoms but there are also problems with the heart. Problems occur with rapid heart rate, enlargement of the heart, fluid retention or edema, trouble breathing, eventually leading to congestive heart failure and lactic acid build-up in the body.
Then there is the cerebral beriberi also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. This is a terrible central nervous effect of severe acute thiamin deficiency combined with chronic low-grade deficiency. This is often seen with chronic alcoholics or others suffering from severe deficiency. Symptoms may look like someone who is having severe brain fog, confusion, brain fatigue, trouble focusing their eyes, have difficulty walking and maintaining their balance. In many ways, they may seem like they are drunk, but they are not.
Standard American Diet Lacks Thiamin
Thiamin deficiency causes are due to poor dietary intake, but many other factors now found in the 21st century deplete or interfere with thiamin. The Standard American Diet is loaded with high amounts of simple carbohydrates and sugars. Thiamin is especially vital to enzymes that breakdown carbohydrates. Consuming a high carb/high sugar diet is a fast track to creating a high functional need for thiamin. In fact, scientists call it high calorie malnutrition which is commonly associated with thiamin deficiency, i.e. early beriberi. Diets high in processed carbohydrates and sugar are a double problem. The food itself is lacking thiamin and the act of metabolizing the high amount of carbohydrates requires higher amounts of vitamin B1 to complete the job.
Alcohol, Coffee, and Tea
Alcohol, coffee, and tea intake, especially chronic and high amounts of intake interfere with thiamin. Tobacco use, raw seafood and carbonated beverages have also been reported to lead to thiamin deficiency. Chronic alcohol use is the most common recognized factor that leads to thiamin depletion and leads to severe disorders like Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s psychosis. Severe neurological symptoms of problems with eye movements, problems with balance and ataxia, and significant cognitive impairments are present. These concerns are most commonly seen in chronic alcoholics, but anyone who has severe thiamin deficiency may experience this. Milder versions are seen before it reaches the full blown state. Thiamin intake can reverse these symptoms induced by alcohol.
Gastric By-Pass/Bariatric Surgery
Research from 30 years ago shows that gastric by-pass surgery or bariatric surgery patients suffer chronic thiamin deficiency and often develop severe neurological problems specifically because of it. It is still just as prevalent of a risk today for those going thru bariatric surgery.
Medications
Numerous medications cheat the body of vitamin B1. Some of the classes of medications that steal thiamin are acid blockers and antacids, antibiotics, antivirals, barbituates, cardiac glycosides, blood pressure meds/multiple types of diuretics, bronchodilators, HRT and oral contraceptives, SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators) and Sulfonamides.
Other Factors That Lead to Insufficiency
Problems with anorexia or other eating disorders, extensive fasting, diabetes, magnesium deficiency, GI disorders with chronic vomiting or diarrhea, and genetic disorders also influence thiamin status of the body. Our gut bacteria can also make thiamin if our digestive tract is healthy. Think about the epidemic levels of digestive disorders associated with inflammation and gut bacteria imbalances that are plaguing young and old alike and the implications with thiamin.
A 1999 study showed that in hospitalized elderly individuals, nearly 40% of the patients had moderate thiamin deficiency and suffered from much higher rates of Alzheimer’s disease, depression, cardiac failure, and falls. Is aging a risk factor for developing thiamin deficiency? Many senior citizens who may have limited budgets or reduced appetites, eat packaged foods or stretch their one community supported meal to last the whole day, or nibble on tea and crackers all day are all at risk for thiamin deficiency. How about the daily routine for the busy adult loading up on coffee and a quick bagel or scone for breakfast? Does this sound like you or any one that you know who is complaining of forgetfulness, are now on Gabapentin for some neuropathy pains in their feet, or seems like they lose their balance a little more often than they should?
Inadequate Thiamin and Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is now described as Type III diabetes because of the problems with elevated brain glucose. Scientists and neurologists have been studying this extensively and clearly see a link with thiamin deficiency. The elevated sugar levels in the brain lead to AGE’s (Advanced Glycation End products) in part because thiamin is insufficient to deal with the high amount of sugar. The thiamin deficiency and the elevated blood sugar in the brain also lead to glutathione depletion, higher levels of oxidative stress damaging the mitochondria.
Muscle Pain, Lactic Acid, and Fibromyalgia
Lack of thiamin is one of the reasons why lactic acid can build up in muscle tissues and consequently contribute to muscle pain and even fibromyalgia. A case report in the British Medical Journal found that muscle pain and fatigue problems were markedly improved when fibromyalgia patients were given high doses of thiamin or vitamin B1. The higher doses of thiamin were able to by-pass problems with transport defects and enzymatic abnormalities that interfered mitochodria function. This supported energy production without the by-product of lactic acid build-up in the tissues leading to fatigue and pain.
Adrenals
The adrenal glands need thiamin in order to maintain a balanced circadian rhythm and improve the function of adrenal hormones. This was described back in 1975. Healthy adrenal function and circadian problems are tremendous issues for many in this busy world. Lack of thiamin was even shown to be related with low blood pressure and low body temperature. A recent case report described a woman who became critically ill, after a minor plastic surgery, with low blood pressure and low body temperature. She remained critically ill even after multiple specialists, evaluations, and aggressive ICU care, until she was given very large doses of thiamin which dramatically restored her body temperature and blood pressure.
Functional Autonomic Nervous System Problems
Problems with sweating, rapid heart rate, wide unstable pulse pressure, attention deficit concerns, dermographia/skin writing (red lines that appear on the skin after scratching and are intensely itchy), blood pressure regulation, and reversible autonomic dysfunction, associated with the Standard American Diet or high caloric malnutrition has been reported in children and young adults.
Blood Sugar, Cholesterol, and Hypertension
Diabetics in early stages of kidney failure were shown to be deficient in thiamin, causing lab tests of microalbuminuria to elevate. Diabetics who had elevated triglycerides, LDL, and total cholesterol, with low LDL levels were found to be deficient in thiamin. Children and adults with type I diabetes and who have problems with ketoacidosis are also deficient in thiamin.
As scientists continue to work on the Genome Project, they are discovering various transportation processes in the body. One mechanism in particular uses thiamin. Recent research identified that a thiamin dependent transport mechanism is heavily involved in blood pressure regulation. They found SNPs or genetic defects that caused the thiamin transporter to the heart and nervous system to be disrupted leading to blood pressure problems. For those with systemic high blood pressure, thiamin intake markedly higher than the RDA may provide that ability to override that transport defect supporting healthy heart and nervous system function. For those who have been consuming foods with white flour and white sugar for decades, this genetic defect may be the end result of modern times.
These are just a handful of recognized concerns associated with thiamin deficiency. Vitamin B1 as thiamin diphosphate is an activated form of supplemental thiamin and is readily absorbed into the system. Dosages for thiamin can range from a 10 mg per day to as much as 1000 mg or more for those with thiamin dependent genetic defects. Vitamin B1 is a water soluble B vitamin and must be replenished on a daily basis.
If you are an individual taking any one of the medications listed above, especially two or more or have a problematic history of blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, fatigue, lactic acid build-up, fibromyalgia, nerve pain, balance problems, ADD and consume sugar, caffeine or alcohol, chances are you are functionally challenged with thiamin. Don’t wait until you have full blown problems like those described. Simple daily supplementation with a high quality multiple vitamin or a full co-enzyme B complex can help a person avoid these disastrous consequences. This applies to children, adults, and the elderly of all ages. The government RDA for vitamin B1 is not going to save you in these circumstances. Be proactive today!
More...
Thiamin is vitamin B1 and is a powerful anti-stress vitamin. We must get it every day from our foods, but most foods generally contain small amounts. Foods that have higher amounts include pork, organ meats, brewer’s yeast and molasses. Other foods have little to no thiamin present, prompting the food industry to add vitamin B1 to processed foods. Take a look at your cereal box and you will see thiamine mononitrate added. This is the synthetic form of vitamin B1 and the cheapest, most inactive form. This fortification is intended to prevent the most basic, severe disease state from lack of nourishment as set by the government RDA/RDI. The 1998 RDA recommendations are trivial 1.2 mg of thiamin per day for adults, just enough to prevent the ancient scourge beriberi.
Our body needs thiamin in order to function to protect it from life threatening beriberi or more subtle demands. Thiamin function impacts a number of enzyme systems in the body and often works together with other minerals, especially magnesium and other B vitamins. It is heavily involved with the breakdown of carbohydrates and branch chain amino acids turning them into energy. Thiamin is essential to the function of mitochondria and the Kreb’s cycle for energy production. These are fundamental processes to all tissues, but especially tissues that have high energy demands, i.e. the heart, brain/nervous system, and mitochondria.
Symptoms of thiamin deficiency are often vague, but there are many clues. Think nervous system (brain, peripheral, and autonomic nervous system) heart, and energy production. Symptoms include problems with fatigue, irritability, poor memory and difficulty thinking, sleep problems, problems with appetite, abdominal pain, and even some types of chest pain. Other symptoms may include problems with muscle aches, muscle weakness, and lactic acid build-up in muscles especially in the calf muscles, trouble focusing with vision, swelling in the legs, and increasing concerns with feeling tipsy, losing your balance, or frequently bumping into things.
Thiamin deficiency when it is severe enough can be linked with a number of disorders. Historically, it is thought of with dry beriberi, wet beriberi, and cerebral beriberi. Dry beriberi involves problems with the peripheral nervous system, the nerves outside of the brain. There may be trouble with peripheral neuropathy, i.e. numbness and tingling or burning in the feet especially at night. Sometimes there may be trouble rising from a squatting or sitting position to standing and trouble feeling vibration in the toes. Wet beriberi involves the same neurological symptoms but there are also problems with the heart. Problems occur with rapid heart rate, enlargement of the heart, fluid retention or edema, trouble breathing, eventually leading to congestive heart failure and lactic acid build-up in the body.
Then there is the cerebral beriberi also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. This is a terrible central nervous effect of severe acute thiamin deficiency combined with chronic low-grade deficiency. This is often seen with chronic alcoholics or others suffering from severe deficiency. Symptoms may look like someone who is having severe brain fog, confusion, brain fatigue, trouble focusing their eyes, have difficulty walking and maintaining their balance. In many ways, they may seem like they are drunk, but they are not.
Standard American Diet Lacks Thiamin
Thiamin deficiency causes are due to poor dietary intake, but many other factors now found in the 21st century deplete or interfere with thiamin. The Standard American Diet is loaded with high amounts of simple carbohydrates and sugars. Thiamin is especially vital to enzymes that breakdown carbohydrates. Consuming a high carb/high sugar diet is a fast track to creating a high functional need for thiamin. In fact, scientists call it high calorie malnutrition which is commonly associated with thiamin deficiency, i.e. early beriberi. Diets high in processed carbohydrates and sugar are a double problem. The food itself is lacking thiamin and the act of metabolizing the high amount of carbohydrates requires higher amounts of vitamin B1 to complete the job.
Alcohol, Coffee, and Tea
Alcohol, coffee, and tea intake, especially chronic and high amounts of intake interfere with thiamin. Tobacco use, raw seafood and carbonated beverages have also been reported to lead to thiamin deficiency. Chronic alcohol use is the most common recognized factor that leads to thiamin depletion and leads to severe disorders like Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s psychosis. Severe neurological symptoms of problems with eye movements, problems with balance and ataxia, and significant cognitive impairments are present. These concerns are most commonly seen in chronic alcoholics, but anyone who has severe thiamin deficiency may experience this. Milder versions are seen before it reaches the full blown state. Thiamin intake can reverse these symptoms induced by alcohol.
Gastric By-Pass/Bariatric Surgery
Research from 30 years ago shows that gastric by-pass surgery or bariatric surgery patients suffer chronic thiamin deficiency and often develop severe neurological problems specifically because of it. It is still just as prevalent of a risk today for those going thru bariatric surgery.
Medications
Numerous medications cheat the body of vitamin B1. Some of the classes of medications that steal thiamin are acid blockers and antacids, antibiotics, antivirals, barbituates, cardiac glycosides, blood pressure meds/multiple types of diuretics, bronchodilators, HRT and oral contraceptives, SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators) and Sulfonamides.
Other Factors That Lead to Insufficiency
Problems with anorexia or other eating disorders, extensive fasting, diabetes, magnesium deficiency, GI disorders with chronic vomiting or diarrhea, and genetic disorders also influence thiamin status of the body. Our gut bacteria can also make thiamin if our digestive tract is healthy. Think about the epidemic levels of digestive disorders associated with inflammation and gut bacteria imbalances that are plaguing young and old alike and the implications with thiamin.
A 1999 study showed that in hospitalized elderly individuals, nearly 40% of the patients had moderate thiamin deficiency and suffered from much higher rates of Alzheimer’s disease, depression, cardiac failure, and falls. Is aging a risk factor for developing thiamin deficiency? Many senior citizens who may have limited budgets or reduced appetites, eat packaged foods or stretch their one community supported meal to last the whole day, or nibble on tea and crackers all day are all at risk for thiamin deficiency. How about the daily routine for the busy adult loading up on coffee and a quick bagel or scone for breakfast? Does this sound like you or any one that you know who is complaining of forgetfulness, are now on Gabapentin for some neuropathy pains in their feet, or seems like they lose their balance a little more often than they should?
Inadequate Thiamin and Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is now described as Type III diabetes because of the problems with elevated brain glucose. Scientists and neurologists have been studying this extensively and clearly see a link with thiamin deficiency. The elevated sugar levels in the brain lead to AGE’s (Advanced Glycation End products) in part because thiamin is insufficient to deal with the high amount of sugar. The thiamin deficiency and the elevated blood sugar in the brain also lead to glutathione depletion, higher levels of oxidative stress damaging the mitochondria.
Muscle Pain, Lactic Acid, and Fibromyalgia
Lack of thiamin is one of the reasons why lactic acid can build up in muscle tissues and consequently contribute to muscle pain and even fibromyalgia. A case report in the British Medical Journal found that muscle pain and fatigue problems were markedly improved when fibromyalgia patients were given high doses of thiamin or vitamin B1. The higher doses of thiamin were able to by-pass problems with transport defects and enzymatic abnormalities that interfered mitochodria function. This supported energy production without the by-product of lactic acid build-up in the tissues leading to fatigue and pain.
Adrenals
The adrenal glands need thiamin in order to maintain a balanced circadian rhythm and improve the function of adrenal hormones. This was described back in 1975. Healthy adrenal function and circadian problems are tremendous issues for many in this busy world. Lack of thiamin was even shown to be related with low blood pressure and low body temperature. A recent case report described a woman who became critically ill, after a minor plastic surgery, with low blood pressure and low body temperature. She remained critically ill even after multiple specialists, evaluations, and aggressive ICU care, until she was given very large doses of thiamin which dramatically restored her body temperature and blood pressure.
Functional Autonomic Nervous System Problems
Problems with sweating, rapid heart rate, wide unstable pulse pressure, attention deficit concerns, dermographia/skin writing (red lines that appear on the skin after scratching and are intensely itchy), blood pressure regulation, and reversible autonomic dysfunction, associated with the Standard American Diet or high caloric malnutrition has been reported in children and young adults.
Blood Sugar, Cholesterol, and Hypertension
Diabetics in early stages of kidney failure were shown to be deficient in thiamin, causing lab tests of microalbuminuria to elevate. Diabetics who had elevated triglycerides, LDL, and total cholesterol, with low LDL levels were found to be deficient in thiamin. Children and adults with type I diabetes and who have problems with ketoacidosis are also deficient in thiamin.
As scientists continue to work on the Genome Project, they are discovering various transportation processes in the body. One mechanism in particular uses thiamin. Recent research identified that a thiamin dependent transport mechanism is heavily involved in blood pressure regulation. They found SNPs or genetic defects that caused the thiamin transporter to the heart and nervous system to be disrupted leading to blood pressure problems. For those with systemic high blood pressure, thiamin intake markedly higher than the RDA may provide that ability to override that transport defect supporting healthy heart and nervous system function. For those who have been consuming foods with white flour and white sugar for decades, this genetic defect may be the end result of modern times.
These are just a handful of recognized concerns associated with thiamin deficiency. Vitamin B1 as thiamin diphosphate is an activated form of supplemental thiamin and is readily absorbed into the system. Dosages for thiamin can range from a 10 mg per day to as much as 1000 mg or more for those with thiamin dependent genetic defects. Vitamin B1 is a water soluble B vitamin and must be replenished on a daily basis.
If you are an individual taking any one of the medications listed above, especially two or more or have a problematic history of blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, fatigue, lactic acid build-up, fibromyalgia, nerve pain, balance problems, ADD and consume sugar, caffeine or alcohol, chances are you are functionally challenged with thiamin. Don’t wait until you have full blown problems like those described. Simple daily supplementation with a high quality multiple vitamin or a full co-enzyme B complex can help a person avoid these disastrous consequences. This applies to children, adults, and the elderly of all ages. The government RDA for vitamin B1 is not going to save you in these circumstances. Be proactive today!
More...