What is Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) deficiency? Know its Symptoms, Causes, Side effects and Treatment
2022-05-19 14:50:34
Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is water-soluble and one of the eight most important B vitamins. Water-soluble vitamins are carried through the bloodstream which means it has dissolving properties and is not stored in your body, so you should consume them regularly. Vitamin B1 is found in a variety of foods such as pork, black beans, sunflower seeds, yogurt, and corn. Eating thiamine less food can lead to thiamine deficiency and have adverse effects on the heart, immune system, and nervous system.
Vitamin B1 deficiency is divided into four categories:
- Dried beriberi:affects the peripheral nervous system.
- Wet beriberi:affects the cardiovascular and circulatory systems.
- Gastrointestinal beriberi : Deficiency in which the digestive system is affected.
- Infantile beriberi : babies born to malnourished mothers will be affected.
Symptoms of Vitamin B1 deficiency
- Fatigue (Tiredness): Vitamin B1 deficiency can lead to fatigue (tiredness), which can come on quickly or over time, depending on the severity of the deficiency.
- Loss of appetite:Vitamin B1 deficiency can lead to unintentional weight loss as the loss of appetite is one of the main symptoms. This could potentially cause a lack of vital nutrients in the body.
- Nerve damage:Vitamin B1 deficiency damages the nerves leading to problems related to the nervous system.
- Blurry vision: Vitamin B1 plays a major role in maintaining healthy nerves, a deficiency of the same can affect the optic nerve in your eye which leads to blurry vision.
- Nausea: Lack of Vitamin B1 in the body can cause nausea or vomiting in mild cases.
- Delirium: Vitamin B1 deficiency can lead to delirium, a serious condition in which you experience confusion, memory loss, and hallucinations.
- Mood swings: Vitamin B1 deficiency can cause intense mood swings because of which you become more irritable or upset.
Other symptoms of vitamin B1 deficiency include
- Weakness in the body: Lack of vitamin B1 can affect the body and causes weakness in the body.
- Severe allergic reactions:Vitamin B1 is beneficial as well as adverse for the body. Vitamin B1 deficiency causes severe allergic reactions in the body.
- Sweating:Vitamin B1 deficiency leads to sweating as the body starts feeling warm.
- Restlessness: The Body becomes tired enough and remains restless due to lack of vitamin B1.
- Swelling: Vitamin B1 deficiency causes swelling in the body.
- Itching in the body: Itching starts in the body as the intake of vitamin B1 reduces.
- Sore throat: Vitamin B1 deficiency causes sore throat or swollen inflamed tongue.
- Skin discoloration:Vitamin B1 deficiency results in skin diseases like pigmentation, acne, etc.
Causes of Vitamin B1 deficiency
Some of the common risk factors for Vitamin B1 deficiency include. Milk is rich in vitamins and other minerals that are useful for treating vitamin B1 deficiency.
- Eating disorders like bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa.
- Weight loss surgery.
- Dialysis (treats kidney conditions).
- Chronic vomiting.
- Increased blood sugar levels.
- Rice bran: Rice bran is the water that is depleted after boiling rice in it. This water contains rice extract and has a large amount of Vitamin B1.
- Whole-Grain Brown Bread:Vitamin B1 is present in large amounts in the outer layer of grains. Therefore, eating foods rich in Vitamin B1, such as whole-grain bread can significantly increase the total levels of the vitamin in the body.
- Legumes:Legumes should be used frequently in the daily diet so that the body can provide the required amount of vitamin B1. Legumes, as well as seeds and nuts, have an outer shell that is rich in vitamin B1 and therefore can cure vitamin B1 deficiency.
- Healthy and Balanced diet: One of the most useful home remedies for thiamine deficiency is eating a healthy and balanced diet that includes foods rich in vitamin B1 along with essential minerals, nutrients, and vitamins. These foods include whole grains, seeds, bread, flour, rice, pasta, fruits like oranges, and vegetables such as beans and spinach. In addition, some other dietary sources of vitamin B1 include pork, eggs, nuts, oats, powdered milk, whole grains, and yeast.
Precautions for Vitamin B1 deficiency
- Hemodialysis: People on hemodialysis may have low levels of Vitamin B1 and may need Vitamin B1 supplements.
- Alcohol use disorder:People who consume alcohol frequently often have low levels of Vitamin B1 and may need Vitamin B1 supplements.
- Liver disease: People suffering from chronic liver disease often have low levels of Vitamin B1 and might need Vitamin B1 supplements.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Higher doses of Vitamin B1 is considered to be unsafe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Children: Vitamin B1 is totally safe but higher doses of vitamin B1 can have adverse effects on infants or children’s health.
- Itching in the body: Itching starts in the body as the intake of vitamin B1 reduces.
- Sore throat: Vitamin B1 deficiency causes sore throat or swollen inflamed tongue.
- Skin discoloration:Vitamin B1 deficiency results in skin diseases like pigmentation, acne, etc.
When to see a doctor?
In most cases, beriberi treatment reduces symptoms and reverses damage to the heart or nervous system. If you notice signs of a Vitamin B1 deficiency, call your doctor as soon as possible.