If your child eats cereal, bread, rice, beef or pork on a regular basis, she is most likely getting an adequate amount of vitamin B-1, or thiamin, in her diet. Most cereals, breads, pastas and white rice are enriched with vitamin B-1 in the United States. The RDA for vitamin B-1 for children varies by age.
History
Vitamin B-1, or thiamin, was one of the first vitamins discovered by scientists. It was found in the 1920s. There are eight B vitamins, which also are known as B complex vitamins.
Function
Vitamin B-1 is used throughout the body, including the nervous system and the muscles. It is used to help electrolytes flow in and out of muscle and nerve cells, it helps produce hydrochloric acid in the stomach for digestion, and helps in the breakdown of carbohydrates to glucose which the body uses for energy. Thiamin is also known as an "anti-stress" vitamin because it may help to boost the immune system and help the body deal with stressful situations, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Sources
Vitamin B-1 is found in beef, pork, legumes or beans, milk, rice, nuts, wheat, whole grain cereals and yeast. Most white rice and food made with white flour such as cereals, breads and pasta have been enriched with vitamin B-1 because the vitamin can be lost through processing. A slice of bread contains about 0.1 mg; milk contains about 0.1 mg per cup; enriched, white rice contains about 0.26 mg; and enriched cereals contain from 0.5 mg to 2.0 mg per cup, the Linus Pauling Institute reports.
RDAs for Children
The Recommended Daily Allowance for children varies by age. For children aged 1 to 3 years, the RDA is 0.5 mg; for children aged 4 to 8, the RDA is 0.6 mg; for children aged 9 to 13 the RDA is 0.9 mg; for males aged 14 to 18 the RDA is 1.2 mg; and for females aged 14 to 18 years the RDA is 1 mg.
Most children get adequate amounts of thiamin in their diet. Thiamin is also found in most children's vitamins. Check with your pediatrician before giving your child vitamins and be sure to follow the dosing instructions on the label.
Deficiencies
Vitamin B-1 is a water soluble vitamin, which means your body doesn't store it. Although it is very rare in developed countries, it is possible to become deficient in vitamin B-1. One of the deficiency diseases is called beriberi. Symptoms of beriberi include swelling, tingling in the hands and feet, confusion, difficulty breathing and uncontrollable eye movements.
Another disease caused by thiamin deficiency is Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. This is a brain disorder that is caused by nerve damage. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is usually found in adults because it is a result of excessive alcohol abuse.
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