7 Amazing Health Benefits of Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
Thiamine or vitamin B1 is an important water-soluble B-complex vitamin that plays an array of essential roles in the body. It helps in maintaining a healthy heart, improving memory and cognition and protects the brain and nervous system against damage.
Thiamine is also required to produce energy which the body needs to carry out various functions. It enhances the health of skin, mouth, gastrointestinal tract and eyes. Thiamine also fights depression and anxiety disorders and boosts mental health.
Health Benefits of Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
Here are some amazing health benefits of thiamine:
Management of Diabetes
Studies have discovered that thiamine deficiency is common in individuals with diabetes. Getting enough thiamine counteracts damage to the small blood vessels which is otherwise common in diabetics due to chronic high blood glucose level.
Deficiency of thiamine impairs glucose metabolism in people with diabetes mellitus. When foods high in thiamine are added to the diet of diabetics, the activity of enzymes, which play a positive role in glucose metabolism is enhanced. Thus, it delays the progression of diabetic complications.
Furthermore, thiamine-rich foods are high in dietary fiber too, which slow down the release of glucose into the bloodstream and help in the management of diabetes mellitus.
High level of thiamine is present in the pancreas of healthy individuals. Thiamine insufficiency leads to impairment in the production and secretion of insulin. That is why it is important for all the diabetics to get their daily dose of thiamine via diet or supplements. (1, 2)
Anxiolytic Property of Thiamine
Thiamine improves general well-being in patients with anxiety disorders. This water-soluble vitamin reduces anxiety, improves mental clarity and helps the brain and body to work effectively in individuals with generalized anxiety disorders.
Thiamine helps the mind to relax, allows one to get a good night’s sleep and decreases fatigue. It is a natural stress-buster and boosts healthy nerve function.
One can keep anxiety and panic at bay by increasing their regular intake of thiamine.
Fends Off Alzheimer’s Disease
Acetylcholine is a brain chemical that is important for processing of learning and memory. This brain chemical is reduced in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Your brain needs thiamine to produce acetylcholine. Therefore, an adequate supply of thiamine is required for a healthy brain.
Insufficiency of thiamine can lead to poor mental health, cognitive decline, confusion, disorientation, and depression. Furthermore, glucose is required to produce energy in the brain. Thiamine is needed for the conversion of carbohydrates from the food we eat into glucose. This glucose is then required by the brain for functions such as learning, memory, and thinking. Hence, thiamine is important for overall brain health. (3, 4)
Anti-Depressant Role of Thiamine
Studies have revealed that thiamine plays an important role in mental health and a positive link has been found between low thiamine nutritional status and depression.
Thiamine provides glucose to the brain, which is a vital fuel required for its functioning. Furthermore, thiamine is needed for the secretion of serotonin, a chemical that boosts mood, appetite and overall well-being.
Low levels of serotonin can affect mental health negatively and may lead to depression. Research has found that treatment of individuals with depression with thiamine supplements improved mood and other symptoms of depression. (5)
Prevents Nerve Damage
Thiamine deficiency has a negative impact on the central nervous system. Thiamine helps in the development and strengthening of myelin, a substance that surrounds the nerves and protects it against damage and death.
If you do not get enough thiamine from your diet, degeneration of myelin can occur which may further damage the nerves and contribute to nervous disorders such as Bell’s Palsy and multiple sclerosis. In addition to this, thiamine helps produce energy which is important for the normal functioning of the nerves. (6, 7)
Aids Digestion
Thiamine helps in the breakdown of macronutrients and converts them into energy. It further helps move this energy into cells and tissues where it is required for proper digestion of food. This speeds up metabolism and helps in regulating appetite.
Thiamine also helps in the secretion of hydrochloric acid (HCl), a liquid present in the stomach required for the complete digestion of food. Eating thiamine-rich foods can promote good digestion and reduce the risk of digestive problems.
Promotes Heart Health
Studies have confirmed the beneficial impact of thiamine intake on heart health. Treatment with thiamine showed improvement in echocardiograms in individuals suffering from congestive heart failure. This proves that thiamine is effective in preventing heart diseases.
It improves left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), urine output, blood pressure and overall functioning of the heart. Furthermore, it was found that individuals with heart disease were thiamine deficient. Such a deficiency further worsens overall heart health. (8)
Other Health Benefits of Thiamine
Evidence-based studies have found that thiamine improves metabolism, regulates appetite and prevents the onset of gastrointestinal disorders.
A diet rich in thiamine protects vision and prevents glaucoma and cataracts. Such a diet further prevents damage to the skin and fights aging. Thiamine also enhances production of energy and boosts stamina.
