Vitamin B1 - Thiamine

Thiamine was the first vitamin isolated. It is important for energy production and carbohydrate metabolism. Thiamine combines with pyruvic acid to form energy. It acts as the co-enzyme for the production of acetylcholine.

Anti oxidant foods

Thiamine is also a powerful antioxidant. Thus, thiamine is important for promoting growth. Dietary sources of thiamine include yeast, pork, legumes, beef, whole grains and nut. Polished white rice unfortunately contains little thiamine. Thiamine is also heat sensitive.

The requirement for vitamin B1 increases during illness, stress and surgery. Thus deficiency may result in people with poor dietary intake, alcoholics and patients with chronic diseases including cancer. This results in anorexia, irritability, apathy and generalized weakness.

In prolonged cases, beriberi may result. with features of enlarged heart, peripheral edema, peripheral neuritis. In dry beriberi, symmetrical peripheral neuropathy of the motor and sensory nerves and diminished reflexes may result. Patients taking diuretic tablets tend to lose more thiamine. Hemodialysis also leads to increased loss.