Vitamin B1 (thiamine) For The Body And The Brain
Vitamin B1, also called thiamine, serves many purposes in the body.
It is an essential part of converting carbohydrates to energy, and necessary to the proper functioning of the heart, the musculature system of the body and the nervous system. Thiamine is very important to the brain, particularly in terms of emotional health and well being, as well as being useful for concentration and focus.
Vitamin B1 deficiencies can lead to a variety of physical conditions and diseases.
Symptoms include pain, muscle weakness, numbness and tingling in the extremities and a lack of physical coordination, particularly in the larger muscle masses that make up the leg muscles.
A severe deficiency in Vitamin B1 can lead to brain and nerve damage and even death. Mental symptoms associated with a serious lack of Vitamin B include fatigue, psychosis, and confusion.
A deficiency in thiamine can cause lung congestion and enlargement of the heart, which can itself lead to congestive heart failure.
There are also two specific types of brain damage associated with severely low levels of Vitamin B1.
One, Korsakoff syndrome, results in confusion and short term memory loss.
Another, Wernicke's Disease has symptoms that include vision disturbances and irregularities, an unsteady walk, and mental confusion.
Despite the obvious importance of Vitamin B1 to many of the body's important functions, a great deal of people regularly fail to meet the recommended daily intake levels.
Alcoholics are particularly vulnerable to being deficient in Vitamin B1, because alcohol ruins the B vitamins.
Illnesses that force bodily fluids from the body, such as chronic diarrhea, can deplete the body's levels of thiamine, because it is a water-soluble vitamin and the body needs to have its supply renewed every day.
Dietary supplements are an affordable, safe and effective way to consistently meet the recommended daily intake levels of Vitamin B1. It is especially important, however, when taking supplements to use them with care and attention, because taking too much Vitamin B1 can cause adverse side effects and even serious health problems.
While there are certain health situations that do call for higher than average doses of this powerful B vitamin, high dosages should only be taken while under the direct care of a qualified health care professional.
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