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DESCRIPTION
As the first B vitamin discovered, thiamine (or thiamin) can rightly claim the name of vitamin B-1. This nutrient is essential to normal growth and development. Thiamine enhances circulation, promotes proper functioning of the heart, and assists in blood formation, carbohydrate metabolism, and the production of hydrochloric acid, which is important for proper digestion. Thiamine also optimizes proper functioning of the nervous system, cognitive activity and brain function. It has a positive effect on energy, growth, normal appetite, and learning capacity, and is needed for proper muscle tone of the intestines, stomach, and heart. Thiamine also acts as an antioxidant, protecting the body from the degenerative effects of aging, alcohol consumption, and smoking.
At one time, cases of severe thiamine deficiency was common in the United States until the 1940s when authorities started to require that any B vitamin removed during grain processing be added back in. Today, vitamin B-1 is so widely available in foods that most people get more than enough to satisfy basic requirements. Beriberi, a nervous system disease, is caused by a deficiency of thiamine. Other symptoms that can result from thiamine deficiency include constipation, edema, enlarged liver, fatigue, forgetfulness, gastrointestinal disturbances, heart changes, irritability, labored breathing, numbness of the hands and feet, pain and sensitivity, poor coordination, tingling sensations, weak and sore muscles, general weakness, and severe weight loss.
SOURCES
The richest food sources of thiamine include brown rice, egg yolks, fish, legumes, liver, peanuts, peas, lean pork, poultry, rice bran, wheat germ, and whole grains and enriched grain products (from cereals to pasta and white rice).
Other sources are asparagus, dried beans, Brewer's Yeast, blackstrap molasses, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Dulse, Kelp, most nuts, oatmeal, plums, dried prunes, raisins, Spirulina, and Watercress.
Herbs that contain thiamine include Alfalfa, Bladderwrack, Burdock Root, Catnip, Cayenne, Chamomile, Chickweed, Eyebright, Fennel Seed, Fenugreek, Hops, Nettle, Oat Straw, Parsley, Peppermint, Raspberry Leaf, Red Clover, Rose Hips, Sage, Yarrow, and Yellow Dock.
COMMENTS
Antibiotics, sulfa drugs, and oral contraceptives may decrease thiamine levels in the body. A high-carbohydrate diet increases the need for thiamine. There are still groups of people at risk of developing a thiamine deficiency: older adults and alcoholics in particular. There are also certain ailments for which extra thiamine can be beneficial. For example, thiamine supplements may help to guard against a thiamine deficiency caused by taking diuretics, a standard treatment for congestive heart failure. Thiamine may lessen numbness and tingling in individuals with diabetes and other disorders that can cause nerve damage. Thiamine has shown promise in treating a number of other disorders, including depression, anxiety, and stress.
Because it works synergistically with other B vitamins, it is best to get thiamine as part of a B-complex supplement rather than on its own.
CAUTIONS
Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, dietary supplements should be taken only under the supervision of a knowledgeable healthcare provider.
Oral vitamin B-1 is generally nontoxic. There are no known safety issues associated with Thiamine when taken in the recommended doses. Stomach upset can occur at very high doses (much higher than the recommended daily amount).
Taking any one of the B-complex vitamins for a long period of time can result in an imbalance of other important B vitamins. For this reason, it is generally important to take a B-complex vitamin with any single B vitamin.
Consult your health care provider before taking thiamine supplements to treat a medical or psychiatric condition.
There are no side effects associated with commonly recommended dosages of thiamine; the body efficiently flushes out any excess through urine. However, extremely high oral doses can cause drowsiness.
It is best to take thiamine with meals because the stomach acid produced to digest the food helps the absorption of the vitamin.
POSSIBLE INTERACTIONS
If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use vitamin B-1 without first talking to your healthcare provider. Taking antibiotics, phenytoin (Dilantin), sulfa drugs, and oral contraceptives may decrease thiamine levels in the body. Heavy alcohol or caffeine consumptions can decrease thiamine levels as well. High carbohydrate diets increase the need for thiamine.
Antibiotics, Tetracycline: Vitamin B-1 should not be taken at the same time as the antibiotic tetracycline because it interferes with the absorption and effectiveness of this medication. Vitamin B-1 either alone or in combination with other B vitamins should be taken at different times from tetracycline. (All vitamin B complex supplements act in this way and should therefore be taken at different times from tetracycline.)
Antidepressant Medications, Tricylic: Taking vitamin B-1 supplements may improve treatment with antidepressants such as nortriptyline, especially in elderly patients. Other medications in this class of antidepressants include desimpramine and imipramine.
Chemotherapy: Although the significance is not entirely clear, laboratory studies suggest that thiamine may inhibit the anti-cancer activity of chemotherapy agents. How this will ultimately prove relevant to people is not known. However, it may be wise for people undergoing chemotherapy for cancer to not take large doses of vitamin B-1 supplements.
Digoxin: Laboratory studies suggest that digoxin (a medication used to treat heart conditions) may reduce the ability of heart cells to absorb and use vitamin B-1; this may be particularly true when digoxin is combined with furosemide (a loop diuretic).
Diuretics: Diuretics (particularly furosemide, which belongs to a class called loop diuretics) may reduce the levels of vitamin B-1 in the body. In addition, similar to digoxin, furosemide may diminish the heart's ability to absorb and utilize vitamin B-1, especially when these two medications are combined.
Scopolamine: Vitamin B-1 may help reduce some of the side effects associated with scopolamine, a medication commonly used to treat motion sickness.
SUPPLEMENT FORMS
Vitamin B-1 can be found in multivitamins (including children's chewable and liquid drops), B-complex vitamins, or can be sold individually. It is available in a variety of forms including tablets, softgels, and lozenges. It may also be labeled as thiamine hydrochloride or thiamine mononitrate.
AILMENTS DOSAGE Congestive Heart Failure 200 mg a day Heartburn 500 mg every morning
GENERAL DOSAGE RECOMMENDATIONS
Having adequate amounts of Thiamine, enhances cognitive activity and brain function. Thiamine also helps stimulate overall growth, energy, and normal appetite. This vitamin improves circulation and aids in the function of blood. It also produces hydrochloric acid, which is necessary for proper digestion. As with all medications and supplements, check with your healthcare provider before giving vitamin B-1 supplements to a child.
Daily recommendations for dietary vitamin B-1 are listed below. To take as a daily supplement, read and follow product label directions.
PEDIATRIC
- Newborns to 6 months: 0.2 mg (adequate intake)
- Infants 7 months to 1 year: 0.3 mg (adequate intake)
- Children 1 to 3 years: 0.5 mg (RDA)
- Children 4 to 8 years: 0.6 mg (RDA)
- Children 9 to 13 years: 0.9 mg (RDA)
- Males 14 to 18 years: 1.2 mg (RDA)
- Females 14 to 18 years: 1 mg (RDA)
ADULT
- Males 19 years and older: 1.2 mg (RDA)
- Females 19 years and older: 1.1 mg (RDA)
- Pregnant females: 1.4 mg (RDA)
- Breastfeeding females: 1.5 mg (RDA)
Doses for conditions like beriberi and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome are decided by your healthcare practitioner in an appropriate clinical setting. For Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, thiamine is administered by venous injection under a health care provider's supervision.
VITAMIN B-1 / THIAMIN / THIAMINE SUPPLEMENTS & PRODUCTS
Alive! Whole Food Energizer Multi-Vitamin & Mineral, 18 mg of Iron Added, Nature's Way, 90 Tabs
Nature's Way Alive multi-vitamin with mineral is better absorbed into your blood stream because its tablets disintegrate up to 5X faster than other leading brands. No other supplement contains more life-giving nutrients than Alive, which is just the way it will make you feel.
Alive! Whole Food Energizer Multi-Vitamin & Mineral With Naturally Occurring Iron (No Iron Added), Nature's Way, 90 Tabs
No other supplement contains more life-giving nutrients than Nature's Way Alive Multi-Vitamin. Alive Multi-Vitamin is better absorbed into your blood stream because its tablets disintegrate up to 5X faster than other leading brands.
Cellfood Liquid Multi-Vitamin, 100% RDA Spray, 1 fl. oz.
Cellfood Liquid Multi Vitamin has an absorption and assimilation rate of almost 20 times more than vitamin pill supplementation.
Daily Two Iron-Free Multi-Vitamin Supplement, 100% Natural, Nature's Way, 100 Tabs
This iron free multivitamin supplement was developed for the protection growth and maintenance of body systems as they age.
Energizer Formula With Siberian Eleuthero, Nature's Way, 430 mg, 100 Caps
Nature's Way Energizer formula includes Siberian Eleuthero and Bee Pollen.
Mood Aid Formula, 5-HTP & St. John's Wort Supplement, Nature's Way, 60 Caps
Mood Aid Formula Supplement represents a blend of traditional medicine and recent science.
Multi-Vitamin & Multi-Mineral, Baby & Children's Liquid, ChildLife, 8 fl. oz.
Children's liquid Multi-Vitamin & Multi-Mineral formula provides the optimal dosage of all the essential vitamins and minerals with trace elements for infants and children of all ages and it tastes great!
Multi-Vitamin & Multi-Mineral For Diabetics, Iron Free, All Natural, Nature's Way, Vegetarian, Completia Diabetic Vitamin Formula, 90 Tabs
Nature's Way Completia Diabetic Vitamin Supplement supports the nutritional needs of individuals with diabetes and the related blood support needed.
Multi-Vitamin With Iron, Nature's Way, 100 Caps
This multivitamin with Iron contains vitamins and minerals important for proper body function in quality forms and safe doses.
Multi-Vitamin Without Iron, Nature's Way, 100 Caps
The vitamins and minerals in this Multi Vitamin without Iron play many important roles in the body: antioxidants to protect fats, cells and DNA, coenzyme precursors for energy production and metabolism, and cofactors for hormones and enzymes which regulate body processes.
Once Daily Multi-Vitamin With Iron, All Natural, Lactose Free, Nature's Way, 100 Tabs
Nature's Way Daily Multi-Vitamin with Iron provides many of the essential nutrients that modern diets may lack. They are useful for protection, growth and maintenance of body systems as they age.
PMS Supplement With 5-HTP & Vitamin B-6, Nature's Way, 100 Caps
This PMS Supplement represents the powerful synergy of current scientific research and traditional herbal medicine.
Prenatal Multi-Vitamin & Mineral, 100% Natural Complete, Nature's Way, 180 Caps
Nature's Way Woman's Prenatal Multivitamin and mineral supplement provides specially balanced prenatal vitamin and mineral potencies for pregnant women or postnatal lactating women.
Super Multi-Vitamin & Multi-Mineral, Pure Vital Earth, 98% Bio-Available For Absorption, 32 fl. oz.
Super Multi-Vitamin & Multi-Mineral has the power to replace almost everything in your vitamin cabinet. Because Super Multi is sweetened with healthy xylitol and stevia there are no unwanted spikes in blood sugar that contribute to fat storage.
True Balance, NOW Foods, 120 Caps
True Balance provides a full compliment of essential nutrients like Chromium and Vanadium, important minerals that support energy production and cellular metabolism, and a full array of key B-complex vitamins that support a healthy mood state.
Vitamin B-1 / Thiamin HCl (Hydrochloric Acid), 100% Natural, 100 mg, 100 Caps
Vitamin B-1 (Thiamin) is the precursor to the active metabolite thiamin diphosphate, which is essential for the conversion of glucose into energy.
Vitamin B-50 Complex With Vitamin B-2 Coenzyme, 100% Natural, Nature's Way, 330 mg, 100 Caps
B Vitamins, as found in a Vitamin B Complex, are precursors of coenzymes involved in the conversion of cellular energy, manufacture of hormones and proteins, and repair and maintenance of nerve structures.
Vitamin B-100 Complex With Coenzyme B-2, Nature's Way, 631 mg, 100 Caps
A complete Vitamin B Complex of 8 essential vitamins. B Vitamins are precursors of coenzymes involved in the conversion of cellular energy, manufacture of hormones and proteins, and repair and maintenance of nerve structures.
B-Stress Vitamin Complex With Siberian Eleuthero, Nature's Way, 100 Caps
If you are looking for herbal stress relief, you will find B-Stress Vitamin Complex with Siberian Eleuthero, formerly Siberian Ginseng Root to be just what you are looking for.
Herbal Remedies: Vitamin B-1 / Thiamin / Thiamine Information
Herbal Remedies: Vitamin B-1 / Thiamin / Thiamine Supplements & Products
MoonDragon's Health & Wellness: Nutrition Basics - Vitamins Index
HELPFUL PRODUCTS & FURTHER EDUCATION
Prescription for Nutritional Healing: The A-To-Z Guide To Supplements
-- by Phyllis A. Balch, James F. Balch - 2nd Edition
Prescription for Nutritional Healing: The A-To-Z Guide To Supplements
-- by Phyllis A. Balch, James F. Balch - 4th Edition
Prescription for Herbal Healing: The A-To-Z Reference To Common Disorders
-- by Phyllis A. Balch
The Complete Guide to Natural Healing
Educational materials and health products are available through Amazon.com. Use the search box provided below to search for a particular item.
HERBS, OILS, & SUPPLIES
Mountain Rose Bulk Herbs
Mountain Rose Aromatherapy Oils
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