Vitamin B1

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Vitamin B1 - Food Sources and Deficiency Symptoms

It is also known as thiamine, thiamin and aneurin. It helps to fuel your body by converting blood sugar into energy. It keeps your mucous membranes healthy and is essential for nervous system, cardiovascular and muscular function. Every cell of the body requires vitamin B1 to form the fuel the body runs on-adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Nerve cells require vitamin B1 in order to function normally.

Vitamin B1 is a water-soluble vitamin. Beriberi, a disease of the nervous system, is caused by a deficiency of B1. Vitamin B1 is important for the following bodily functions: breathing, carbohydrate metabolism, enhanced circulation, and assists in producing hydrochloric acid.

The excessive consumption of alcohol, may depletes the body of thiamine (B1). Other known side effects from a lack of Vitamin B1 include: constipation edema, heart changes, memory difficulties, labored breathing, nervousness and numbness in the extremities.

Functions of vitamin B1:

The important functions of vitamin B1 are as:-

• Vitamin B1, is very essential for converting carbohydrate into energy.

• The most important use of thiamine is in the treatment of beriberi, a condition caused by a deficiency of thiamine in the diet. Symptoms include swelling, tingling or burning sensation in the hands and feet, confusion, difficulty breathing.

• Vitamin B1, helps in maintaining the healthy nervous system.

• Vitamin B1, is necessary for healthy mucous membranes.

• It helps in the digestion of food.

• It provides strength to muscles.

• It is very useful for the proper functioning of heart.

Deficiency of vitamin B1:

There are many diseases, that may occur due to deficiency of vitamin B1. These are as:-

• Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome: It is a brain disorder caused by thiamine deficiency. Wernicke-Korsakoff is actually two disorders in one: (1) Wernicke's disease involves damage to nerves in the central and peripheral nervous systems and (2) Korsakoff syndrome is characterized by memory impairment with various symptoms of nerve damage.

• Cataracts: The deficiency of vitamin b1 in the body, may lead to the condition of cataracts. People with plenty of protein and vitamins A, B1, B2, and B3 (niacin) in their diet are less likely to develop cataracts.

• Burns: It is especially important for people who have sustained serious burns to obtain adequate amounts of nutrients in their daily diet. When skin is burned, a substantial percentage of micronutrients may be lost.

• Heart failure: Thiamine may be related to heart failure in two ways. First, low levels of thiamine may contribute to the development of congestive heart failure (CHF). On the flip side, people with severe heart failure can lose a significant amount of weight including muscle mass (called wasting or cachexia) and become deficient in many nutrients.

Sources of Vitamin B1:

The best sources of Vitamin B1 are yeasts and liver. The following foods are good sources of Vitamin B1:

• Whole-grain cereals.

• Rye and whole-wheat flour.

• Wheat germ.

• Navy beans and kidney beans.

• liver.

• yeast.

• wholemeal products.

• peanuts.

• Pork.

• milk.