Nutrients

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) Deficiency Symptoms

Leading to the concept of vitamins, the first vitamin to be discovered was thiamine or vitamin B1. High concentration of thiamine is found in the liver, kidneys, brain, heart and skeletal muscles.

Thiamine deficiency is common among individuals with high consumption of alcohol and increased intake of refined grains.

This B-complex vitamin is important for the production of energy, protection of the heart, enhancement of the brain activities and for the regulation of mood and overall well-being.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) Deficiency Symptoms

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) Deficiency Symptoms include decreased food intake (anorexia), muscle cramps, muscle atrophy, poor memory, sleeplessness, irritability, tachycardia, hypotension, chest pain, dysphagia, constipation, fatigue, etc.

Below mentioned are the symptoms of thiamine deficiency:

Decreases Food Intake

Low thiamine nutritional status is associated with reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure, which results in weight loss. Insufficiency of thiamine inhibits the action of a compound that regulates food intake and energy metabolism.

Such an insufficiency affects a part of the brain, which in turn alters hormones linked to hunger and energy balance. Eating foods rich in thiamine can restore appetite and reverse thiamine deficiency-induced weight loss.

Hence, it is important to correct thiamine levels in order to improve the overall health status of such individuals. (1)

Impaired Cognition

Getting adequate thiamine from the diet is essential to support healthy brain function. It energizes the brain and improves memory, learning and thought process. It protects the outer covering of the nerve cells and prevents their destruction.

Furthermore, the human brain requires thiamine to use glucose for energy. Without thiamine, brain cells do not get energy and they die. This important vitamin is also needed to produce brain chemicals that send signals to other cells.

Individuals with thiamine deficiency are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Eating enough food sources of thiamine can reverse or prevent cognitive decline and reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. (2, 3)

Increases the Risk of Heart Diseases

Clinical studies have observed that not getting enough thiamine could increase the risk of heart diseases. Thiamin supplementation improves the ability of the heart to pump the blood effectively. It enhances relaxation and contraction of heart muscles and thus, it improves overall functioning of the heart.

Lack of thiamine makes the heart energy deficient and reduces the ability of the heart to function efficiently. Moreover, it increases the risk of heart diseases and heart failure. (4, 5)

Depression & Anxiety

Human brain is sensitive to the disturbance of thiamine. Literature has found that low concentrations of thiamine are associated with depression and anxiety.

Thiamine is required for the production of brain chemicals that fight depression, uplift mood, improve social behavior and reduce depressive symptoms. Furthermore, thiamine protects the brain cells against oxidative stress, which otherwise lead to decrease in the population of brain cells.

Insufficiency of thiamine increases the risk of brain damage, which cause behavioral changes. Such a damage can be prevented by getting enough thiamin via diet and supplements. (6)

Increases Muscle Pain

Pain, tenderness, weakness and stiffness of the muscles accompanied by inflammation has a negative impact on the overall quality of life. Such a condition can arise from deficiency of thiamine.

Correcting the nutritional status of thiamine improves energy metabolism and reduces muscle fatigue. Making thiamine rich food sources a part of the daily diet can be beneficial for individuals with muscle pain and weakness. (7)

Causes Insomnia

A low level of thiamine in the body can affect the sleep cycle and lead to insomnia. Thiamine is involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters that play a key role in the regulation of sleep and circadian cycle.

Moreover, thiamine is required for the production of sleep chemicals that promote sleep. That is why, a deficiency of thiamine disrupts sleep and causes insomnia. (8)

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) Deficiency Symptoms Infographic
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) Deficiency Symptoms Infographic

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Sneha Sadhwani

Dt. Sneha Sadhwani Sewlani (B.Sc. Food Science & Nutrition, PG in Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics) is Clinical Nutritionist & Certified Diabetes Educator and Certified Lifestyle Coach. She has expertise in clinical nutrition and 4 years’ experience working as Clinical Nutritionist and Dietician. She has been associated as a nutritionist with LTMG Hospital and S. L. Raheja Fortis Institute in Mumbai.She has also her own private practice where she offers a wide range of different programs, including weight loss, weight gain, diabetes management, diet plan according to diseases and much more through her in-person and online consultation.Sneha strongly believes that a healthy diet and lifestyle modifications are the best ways to prevent and treat diseases. She says, “Eating healthy is an art, be an artist of your own mind and body”.

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