Thiamine

General Information:

• Responsibilities include helping to maintain the dehydrogenase system and the intermediary metabolism of carbohydrates. Also it is involved in the catalysis of acetylcholine. In older people, a thiamine deficiency is associated with memory loss. See also choline related memory loss.
  Thiamine works well with manganese and should be taken as a part of the B complex. It is also a combinant form with pyruvic acid which in turn forms an coenzyme that breaks down carbohydrates into glucose.
  
• Present in artichokes, asparagus, watercress, cabbage, radishes and many other vegetables, in coconut, grapefruit, pineapple, almonds, filberts, hazelnuts, peanuts, in bacon, ham, beef heart, lamb, liver, egg yoke, rye and wheat germ and in many other foods.
  
• Tiredness, irritability and loss of appetite accompany thiamine deficiency which may well lead to depression. Serious deficiencies lead to cardiac difficulty as evidenced by brachycardia (slow heart rate) and cardiomegaly (enlarged heart). Indigestion, anorexia, constipation, and gastric atony may also be indicated. Beri beri (polyneuritis) is also associated with a thiamine deficiency. Herpes zoster (shingles) has also been associated with lack thiamine. Iron-related anemia (low red blood cell count) is generally evident in a diet that lacks proper thiamine because the iron absorbtion is aided by hydrochloride which is related directly to the availability of thiamine.

  For those who drink alcohol, another world opens up for thiamine deficiency since alcohol destroys the liver and the liver is responsible for keeping the blood sugar stable in the body, thiamine deficiency can cause the body to crave alcohol, because the erratic blood sugar levels create thirst.

  Diuretics also cause thiamine deficiencies that lead to blood clot problems and heart muscle degeneration.

  The teeth heal better if adequate thiamine is in the body.
  A note of caution however. Overdosing on thiamine will allow the excess thiamine to bind with other B vitamins in the body and flush them from the system.
  Destroyed in the body by alkalies and sulfites.
  

• Requirements are per day.
  

ŠJamie Longstreet 1996-2004