Thiamine Deficiency

Thiamine - Vitamin B1

Thiamine, which is also known as vitamin B1, is an essential vitamins for human body to function optimally. Human body needs variety of different essential nutrients for survival and optimal health, and most of these essential nutrients are provided by our diet. Vitamins and minerals comprise the major composition of these required nutrients and we have to make sure that we are getting adequate amounts of these vitamins to prevent any unwanted medical disorders which are briefly outlined below.

Thiamine has variety of function in our body but the major and most important function of them all is the metabolization of sugars in our body. Thiamine acts as a coenzyme in many different enzymatic reactions. Most of these enzymatic reactions are responsible for the cellular metabolism. Mentioned enzymatic reactions form very complex reaction pathways, and the end result of such enzymatic pathways provides the cell with the needed energy.

In the presence of thiamine, vitamin B1, cells are able to convert energy from different sources and store them inside. This stored energy can then be used to perform all the complex biological tasks that cells need to perform to be alive.

Thiamine belongs to the b complex group of vitamins and these vitamins are water soluble. Water solubility or hydrophilicity of this vitamin means that it can be easily excreted from the body as it can dissolve in water. Water-insoluble vitamins, on the other hand, can not be excreted out of body easily and are usually stored in the liver.

Generally, if thiamine is consumed in slightly greater amounts, it is easily excreted from the body without doing much damage.

Deficiency Due to Thiamine

Especially if prolonged, thiamine deficiency can cause a variety of medical disorders. Some of the disorders caused by thiamine deficiency can be debilitating, but most of them can be cured by increased thiamine intake.

Deficiency can be caused due to a variety of reasons. Some reason for thiamine deficiency include imbalanced diet and the administration of drugs which negatively react with thiamine.

Preventing Thiamine Deficiency

Thiamine deficiency can be prevented by eating a well balanced diet. Well balanced diet is the one that includes most of the essential nutrients that you need.

Health ministries of different countries release upper and lower limits of most vitamins, which indicate the maximum and minimum amount of specific vitamins and minerals you need daily.

In order to prevent medical disorders due to thiamine deficiency, food sources rich in thiamine should be added to the diet.

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