Thiamine, also known as vitamin B-1, plays crucial roles throughout your body. You can find this nutrient in foods such as lentils, whole wheat bread, pecans, pork and cantaloupe. To function properly, your body needs a certain amount of thiamine, and if you are at risk of low levels, your doctor may recommend that you take a daily supplement. If you suspect your diet does not provide enough enough thiamine, talk to your doctor.
Body Functions
Thiamine aids in the functioning of your nervous system and muscles, and also helps with metabolizing carbohydrates. The electrolytes that move between your nerves and muscles need thiamine to perform this function. As well, thiamine helps produce compounds in bile, which aids in the digestive process. If you do not have enough thiamine, your body cannot perform these functions and the processes break down, resulting in possible health complications.
Diseases
Thiamine may also play a role in the treatment or occurrence of certain diseases. Low thiamine could cause a brain disorder known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which results in cognitive changes, lack of muscle control and vision changes. As well, thiamine deficiency can lead to congestive heart failure and a nervous system disorder known as beriberi that can affect muscle control and neurological functions and cause heart problems. As a treatment, MayoClinic.com reports that thiamine supplements may help reduce symptoms of certain health conditions such as metabolic disorders.
Recommended Intake
To keep your body functioning properly and to prevent deficiency-related conditions, the average adult needs between 1.1 mg and 1.4 mg of thiamine each day. In a half cup of cooked lentils, you will have 0.17 mg of thiamine. A 3 oz. serving of cooked lean pork will provide 0.72 mg of thiamine. A healthful diet will often provide the amount of thiamine your body needs.
Considerations
If you experience unusual symptoms you think may stem from low thiamine, contact your doctor. Prompt evaluation and treatment may help you prevent permanent damage. Your doctor can work with you to help you create a diet that will provide thiamine and other nutrients you need. Following a good diet will help prevent nutritional deficiency symptoms, and may prevent dangerous health complications.
Member Comments