| Vitamin B1 (thiamin) | |||||
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- What is vitamin B1 (thiamin)?
- Important vitamin B1 (thiamin) facts
- Why vitamin B1 (thiamin) is important
Vitamin B1 (thiamin) is a water-soluble vitamin which is required to enable various enzyme reactions in the body. Vitamin B1 (thiamin) is a component of specific coenzymes.
Being a water-soluble vitamin means that any excess vitamin B1 (thiamin) that is consumed is normally excreted through the urine.
Thiamin occurs in the human body as free thiamin and as various phosphorylated forms - thiamin monophosphate (TMP), thiamin diphosphate (TDP), thiamin triphosphate (TTP) (which is also known as thiamin pyrophosphate - TPP).
Certain groups of people can become deficient in vitamin B1 (thiamin) when supplementation may be advised.
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Important vitamin B1 (thiamin) facts
- Vitamin B1 is also known as thiamin
- Vitamin B1 is a water-soluble vitamin
- Vitamin B1 (thiamin) deficiency causes the disease beri-beri
- Some of the absorbed vitamin B1 (thiamin) is stored in muscle tissue
- Vitamin B1 (thiamin) was one of the first compounds to be recognised as a vitamin in the 1930's
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Why vitamin B1 (thiamin) is important
Vitamin B1 is required for the various processes in the body:
- Assist with the metabolisation of carbohydrates and fats to produce energy
- Required for normal growth and development of various tissues and cells in the body
- Maintaining proper functioning of the heart, nervous and digestive systems
Thiamine deficiency can lead to many health problems including degeneration of the neurons, wasting and death.
references
- Abbas ZG, Swai AB. Evaluation of the efficacy of thiamine and pyridoxine in the treatment of symptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy. East Afr Med J 1997;74(12):803-808
- Ambrose, ML, Bowden SC, Whelan G. Thiamin treatment and working memory function of alcohol-dependent people: preliminary findings. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2001;25(1):112-116
- Duran M, Wadman SK. Thiamine-responsive inborn errors of metabolism. J Inherit Metab Dis 1985;8 Suppl 1:70-75
- Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Pantothenic acid. Dietary Reference Intakes: Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin B-12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press; 1998:357-373
- Osiecki, Henry, The Nutrient Bible 2002, BioConcepts Publishing
- Ranganathan LN, Ramaratnam S. Vitamins for epilepsy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005;(2):CD004304
- Rodriquez-Martin JL, Qizilbash N, Lopez-Arrieta JM. Thiamine for Alzheimer's disease (Cochrane Review). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;2:CD001498
To learn more, go to the following web sites:
- Food Standards Australia and New Zealand
- Dieticians Association of Australia
- Nutrient Reference Values (Australia)
