A vitamin B1 deficiency can cause nerve damage and heart problems, among other things. Read when a deficiency can occur and what can be done about it.
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is vital. Among other things, it is involved in the production of energy in the body. As a component of various enzymes, it regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids. In addition, it plays a role in the transmission of stimuli between nerve cells. In the case of a vitamin B1 deficiency, these processes are disrupted.
What happens with a vitamin B1 deficiency?
If there is too little vitamin B1 in the body, this leads to disorders of the nervous system and carbohydrate metabolism. A persistent, severe vitamin B1 deficiency causes the Beri-Beri disease. Possible symptoms are then:
- muscle weakness,
- numbness in arms and legs,
- Water retention (edema) and/or
- cardiac insufficiency.
Without timely treatment, a severe vitamin B1 deficiency can be life-threatening.
A slight deficiency can become noticeable, for example, through gait disorders or skin tingling. Headaches, tiredness or nausea can also be signs of a vitamin B1 deficiency.
How likely is a vitamin B1 deficiency?
In this country, a vitamin B1 deficiency with severe symptoms is rare. Severe beri-beri disease occurs almost exclusively in countries where the diet is predominantly white rice.
Vitamin B1 deficiency is rare
Healthy people are usually sufficiently supplied with vitamin B1 if they eat a balanced diet. You can find out here which foods contain a lot of vitamin B1.
However, a deficiency can also occur in this country in the context of certain diseases. It occurs when the body cannot absorb or process enough vitamin B1. For example, people suffering from alcoholism are at risk. Vomiting during pregnancy, liver and gastrointestinal diseases and certain infectious diseases also increase the risk of a deficiency. Older people who are artificially fed can also have a vitamin B1 deficiency.
For people with a diagnosed vitamin B1 deficiency, it may make sense to take a dietary supplement or receive an infusion in addition to foods rich in thiamine – after consulting a doctor. People without these diseases, on the other hand, are sufficiently supplied with vitamin B1 if they eat a balanced diet and do not need any dietary supplements. You can read here how much vitamin B1 a person needs per day and whether the vitamin can also be overdosed.
