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B1

Description

Since vitamin B1 is not stored in appreciable amounts in the body , it must be supplied daily from dietary sources. Thiamin is a water-soluble vitamin consisting of a substituted pyrimidine ring joined by a methylene bridge to a substituted thiazole ring. The highest concentrations of vitamin B1 are found in muscle, heart, liver, kidneys, and brain. Thiamin can be found in food as free form, thiamin pyrophospate (TPP) and as a protein phosphate complex. It has been reported that thiamin deficiency leads to infantile beriberi, involving peripheral neuropathic lesions.

Functions

As a coenzyme, thiamin plays a key role in energy production, conversion of glucose to fat. Thiamin has an important function in nerve membranes and in nerve conduction, although the mechanism is unclear. It is thought that thiamin exerts its action in a manner different than a coenzyme. It may be TPP that is the form of thiamin involved in nerve membrane function. Thiamin exists in the body as phosphate, TPP, and is a primary coenzyme. TPP involves two major biochemical reactions in carbohydrate metabolism. As a coenzyme, TPP is required in oxidative decarboxylation. For example, TPP is involved in the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA. Acetyl CoA is essential for synthesis of fatty acid and cholesterol. Acetyl CoA also enters TCA cycle where it is further metabolized producing reducing equivalents for use by respiratory chains.

Dietary sources

Thiamin is found in a wide variety of foods, although the best sources of thiamin are pork and whole grains or enriched grain products.Thiamin can also be found in organ meats, red meats, yeast, nuts, sunflower seeds, peas, milk, cauliflower, spinach and legumes.

Required Intakes

Age mg/day
0 to 6 months 0.2*
7 to 12 months 0.3*
1 to 3 years 0.5
4 to 8 years 0.6
9 to 13 years 0.9
Males 14 to 18 years 1.2
Males 19 + years 1.2
Females 14 to 18 years 1.0
Females 19+ years 1.1
Pregnancy 1.4
Lactation 1.5

*Values are Adequate Intakes (AI), others are RDA.There is no Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for thiamin due to lack of data and lack of adverse effects in all age groups.

Cautions

Consult your doctor before taking thiamin supplements to treat a medical or psychiatric condition.There are no side effects associated with commonly recommended dosages of thiamin; the body efficiently flushes out any excess through urine. However, extremely high oral doses can cause drowsiness. It's best to take thiamin with meals because the stomach acid produced to digest the food helps the absorption of the vitamin.