Thiamine, or vitamin B1, is part of the B vitamins, a group of water-soluble vitamins involved in various metabolic processes in the body. Thiamine is important in the function of nerves and muscles, in the processing of carbohydrates, and in the production of stomach acid. Being a water-soluble vitamin, the body does not have large stores of it, so thiamine deficiency can occur in as little as two weeks without proper nutrition. One of the symptoms of thiamine deficiency is neuropathy, or nerve damage.
Thiamine Deficiency
There are two types of thiamine deficiency, primary and secondary. According to the "Merck Manual," primary thiamine deficiency occurs when a person does not ingest enough thiamine in his diet. This is common among people who subsist primarily on a diet of highly refined sugars and white rice. Secondary thiamine deficiency results from the body's increased demand for the vitamin, for example during prolonged diarrhea. Thiamine deficiency is common among alcoholics, who lack proper nutrition and suffer impaired absorption of the vitamin.
Symptoms
Thiamine deficiency can cause dry beriberi -- a loss of the protective sheath around the nerves, which aids in the conduction of signals from the brain to the rest of the body. This condition affects the peripheral nerves, which are the ones located outside of the brain and the spinal cord. Specifically, it affects the nerves in the legs, leading to tingling, loss of sensation and muscle cramps. According to the National Library of Medicine, other symptoms include vomiting, difficulty walking and mental confusion.
Treatment
The treatment for thiamine deficiency starts with eating a balanced diet rich in foods with high vitamin B1 content, such as lentils, peas, and cooked brown rice. Thiamine supplements, either orally or by injection, can also help treat some of the symptoms. Alcoholics who receive intravenous glucose also need intravenous thiamine, as glucose can impair the absorption of vitamin B1. For mild neuropathy, a two-week course of thiamine usually reverses the symptoms. For more advanced cases of neuropathy, long-term thiamine supplementation may be necessary.
Complications
The neuropathy is usually reversible with treatment, but severe cases may result in long-term complications, such as memory loss, and tingling and burning sensations in the extremities. Some patients with thiamine deficiency develop a heart condition called wet beriberi, which causes difficulty breathing and heart failure. Thiamine deficiency causes dilatation of the blood vessels, which results in excess fluid retention. This makes the heart work harder, trying to pump the extra fluid around the body, and this can then lead to heart failure. Another complication of thiamine deficiency is Wernicke's encephalopathy, a type of neuropathy that causes loss of balance and alteration of mental status. Wernicke's can lead to coma and death.
