Vitamin B1 (therapeutic uses)
Vitamin B1, also known as thiamin, is an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in energy metabolism, as it is needed for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in every cell. Its therapeutic uses primarily include treatment for congestive heart failure (CHF), a condition where the heart's ability to pump blood is compromised. Preliminary evidence suggests that thiamin supplementation may alleviate symptoms of CHF, particularly in patients using loop diuretics, which can deplete the body's B1 levels.
Additionally, thiamin has been explored for its potential benefits in enhancing mental function, with some studies indicating that 50 mg daily might be beneficial. Other proposed uses include support for individuals with HIV, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, canker sores, and fibromyalgia; however, the scientific support for these applications varies and remains limited.
Vitamin B1 is generally considered safe, even at high doses, although there can be interactions with certain medications, such as diuretics and anti-seizure drugs. Deficiency is rare in developed countries but can occur due to specific medical conditions or dietary factors. Overall, thiamin is recognized for its significance in maintaining heart health and supporting various bodily functions.
Vitamin B1 (therapeutic uses)
DEFINITION: Organic compound used to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USE: Congestive heart failure
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Alzheimer’s disease, canker sores, enhancing mental function, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, human immunodeficiency virus support
Overview
Vitamin B1, also called thiamin, was the first B vitamin discovered. Every cell in the body needs thiamin to make adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, the body’s main energy-carrying molecule. The heart, in particular, has a considerable need for thiamin to keep up its constant work. Severe deficiency of thiamin results in beriberi, a disease common in the nineteenth century but rare today. Many of the principal symptoms of beriberi involve impaired heart function.
Requirements and Sources
The need for vitamin B1 varies with age and gender. The official U.S. recommendations for daily intake are as follows:
Infants aged 0 to 3 years (0.3 to 0.7 mg), 4 to 6 years (0.9 mg), and 7 to 10 years (1 mg); males aged 14 years and older (1.2 to 1.5 mg); females aged 14 years and older (1.0 to 1.1 mg); pregnant women (1.5 mg); and nursing women (1.6 mg).
Although vitamin B1 deficiency is rare in the developed world, it may occur in certain medical conditions, such as an addiction to alcohol, anorexia, Crohn’s disease, or folate deficiency. People undergoing kidney dialysis or taking loop diuretics may also become deficient in vitamin B1. Certain foods may impair the body’s absorption of B1, including fish, shrimp, clams, mussels, and the herb horsetail. Symptoms of vitamin B1 deficiency include fatigue, impaired stress reaction, and anorexia, while severe deficiency may result in arrhythmia, endocarditis, or even death.
Brewer’s and nutritional yeast are the richest sources of B1. Peas, beans, nuts, seeds, fortified breakfast cereal, enriched egg noodles, pork chops, black beans, blue muscles, and whole grains also provide fairly good amounts.
Therapeutic Dosages
A typical dose of vitamin B1 for therapeutic purposes is 25 to 100 milligrams (mg) daily, although much higher dosages have also been tried. Some nutritional experts recommend taking B1 with other B vitamins in the form of a B-complex supplement. However, there is no meaningful evidence that this offers any advantage.
Therapeutic Uses
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the pumping ability of the heart declines, and fluid begins to accumulate in the lungs and legs. Standard treatment for CHF includes strong “water pills” called loop diuretics. These drugs, however, deplete the body of B1. Since the heart depends on vitamin B1 for its proper function, this is potentially quite worrisome. Preliminary evidence, including a small double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, hints that supplementation with B1 can improve symptoms.
One double-blind study suggests that thiamin taken at a dose of 50 mg daily might enhance mental function. Other potential uses of thiamin have even less scientific support. Observational studies of people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection suggest–but definitely do not prove–that increased intake of vitamin B1 might slow progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and enhance overall survival rate. Weak and contradictory evidence hints that vitamin B1 may be helpful for Alzheimer’s disease. Vitamin B1 has also been proposed as a treatment for epilepsy, canker sores, and fibromyalgia, but the evidence for these uses is too preliminary to cite.
Safety Issues
Vitamin B1 appears to be quite safe, even when taken in very high doses. People who are taking loop diuretics, such as furosemide (Lasix), may need extra vitamin B1. Individuals taking the seizure medication phenytoin (Dilantin) may experience more side effects when taking vitamin B1 supplements, while those taking the heart medication digoxin (Lanoxin) may struggle with the proper absorption of vitamin B1. High doses of vitamin B1 may cause gastrointestinal upset. Long-term use of any single B vitamin may cause a deficiency in one of the other important B vitamins.
Bibliography
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"Thiamin." National Institutes of Health, 9 Feb. 2023, ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Thiamin-HealthProfessional. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.