Can A Deficiency Cause Beriberi?

Beriberi is a condition that first appeared in Asia in the mid-1800s. There are two types of beriberi: wet and dry. Wet beriberi may cause welling of the tissues of your lower legs, breathing difficulties and rapid heart rate. Dry beriberi may cause numbness of the feet and hands, vomiting, confusion, and poor muscle function. Left untreated, both types of beriberi can be fatal. A deficiency of vitamin B-1, also called thiamin, can cause beriberi.

Prevention

Maintaining adequate intake of vitamin B-1 can help prevent beriberi, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The recommended daily intake of vitamin B-1 is 1.2 mg for adult males, and 1.1 mg for adult females. Brown rice, lentils, chickpeas, salmon, tuna and eggs are rich sources of vitamin B-1. Other sources include whole-grain breads, broccoli, kelp, Brussels sprouts and kelp.

Treatment

Treatment of beriberi involves correcting a deficiency of vitamin B-1. There is no single established dose of vitamin B-1 for correcting vitamin B1 deficiency; your doctor will determine the correct dose for you, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. In some cases, you will be given vitamin B-1 intravenously to speed treatment. Typically, symptoms of beriberi improve rapidly with treatment. Beriberi-related heart disease is also commonly reversible unless acute heart failure is present.

Benfotiamine

Vitamin B-1 is water soluble, meaning that it dissolves easily in your body and is excreted through urine. However, benfotiamine is a form of vitamin B-1 that is fat-soluble, which means is stored in fat tissues, according "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." This form of vitamin B-1 may be more effective for preventing beriberi than water-soluble vitamin B-1. Benfotiamine is available in supplement form, and is also found in onions, leeks and fresh garlic.

Considerations

Vitamin B-1 is considered safe, even in doses higher than the recommended daily intake. However, it may occasionally cause stomach upset when taken in high doses. Several prescription vitamins may lower vitamin B-1 levels in your body. These include phenytoin, digoxin and prescription diuretics. Also, frequent consumption of alcohol can deplete vitamin B-1 supplies.