Description:
Thiamine is important for good circulation, blood formation, carbohydrate
utilization, and the production of stomach acid to insure proper
digestion. It is also important for good muscle tone, normalization
of appetite, brain function, and it protects the body from the harmful
effects of aging, alcohol consumption, and the effects of smoking.
A deficiency of Thiamine can lead to constipation, edema, enlarged
liver, fatigue, forgetfulness, irritability, loss of appetite, weak
and sore muscles, and extreme weight loss.
Complimentary Nutrients:
Vitamins C and E, B complex, vitamin B2, folic acid, niacin,
manganese, and sulfur.
Antagonists:
Alcohol, raw clams, excessive sugar, coffee, fever, stress, tobacco,
antibiotics, surgery, sulfa drugs, and oral contraceptives. High
intake of carbohydrates increases the need for Thiamine.
Health Benefits:
B1 benefits the hair, heart, brain, ears, eyes, and nervous system.
It helps the appetite, production of red blood cells, energy
production, carbohydrate metabolism, circulation, growth, hydrochloric
acid production for digestion, learning, intestinal, stomach, and
heart muscle tone, and inhibits pain..
Therapeutic Uses:
Vitamin B1 can be used to treat congestive heart failure,
anemia, beriberi,alcoholism, constipation, diabetes, indigestion,
diarrhea, nausea, multiple sclerosis, alleviation of pain, mental
illness, stress, and rapid heart rate.
Vitamin Therapies should be done with the supervision of a qualified
health care professional. In the panel on the left, under ailments
you can find more information about treatments for some of these
conditions. You can also locate therapeutic information on this
site by using the search engine - click on 'Search' in the panel
on your left - and entering words relating to the ailment you are
interested in.
Deficiency Indicators:
Loss of appetite, loss of memory, pain around the heart, digestive
disturbances, fatigue, constipation, irritability, numb hands and
feet, noise sensitivity and pain, nervousness, and shortness of
breath.
Dosage:
| RDA |
Optimal Health |
Therapeutic Amounts |
| 1.4-1.5 mg (males), 1.0-1.1 mg (females) |
50 mg |
100-400 mg |
RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) are dosages developed by the
FDA. These amounts are designed to prevent deficiency symptoms.
For optimal health it is necessary to take a larger dose. The optimal
health amounts are for adults and children weighing over 100 lbs.
Children under the age of six should be given nutritional formulas
designed specifically for young children. The therapeutic amounts
to treat special conditions are usually much higher, and should
not be taken without the supervision of a qualified health care
professional.
Sources:
B1 can be found in blackstrap molasses, brewer's yeast, egg yolks,
fish, meat, organ meats, poultry, pork, legumes, peanuts,
nuts, peas, brown rice, rice bran, whole grains, wheat germ, broccoli,
Brussels sprouts, plums, and raisins. Here are some examples.
| Food |
Amount |
MG |
| lobster |
1 lb. |
2 |
| hulled sunflower seeds |
1 cup |
3 |
