Thiamine, also called vitamin B1, is a water-soluble vitamin that is used to keep your hair, eyes, skin and liver healthy. All B vitamins help produce energy for the body by converting carbohydrates from the foods you consume into fuel, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Preventing Beriberi
The University of Maryland Medical Center says that the most important use for thiamine is to help treat beriberi, which occurs when there is not enough thiamine in your body. Symptoms of this condition include swelling and a burning sensation of your feet and hands. You usually do not have to worry about not getting enough thiamine as it can be found in many breads and cereals, but a simple deficiency can form quickly as your body does not store thiamine.
Treatment of Metabolic Disorders
The Mayo Clinic says taking thiamine supplements through the mouth can temporarily correct some of the complications that may be a result of metabolic disorders that are related to genetic diseases such as maple syrup urine disease and pyruvate carboxylase deficiency. Thiamine has been found to help effectively treat these conditions.
Heart Failure
Thiamine may help to treat heart failure in two ways, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. First, low amounts of thiamine in your body can lead to a buildup of fluids around the heart, which can lead to heart problems. Having the proper amount of thiamine in your body helps to get rid of excess fluids, assisting in the prevention of heart failure.
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