Thiamine Deficiency Symptoms

Thiamine or vitamin B1 was the first water soluble vitamin to be discovered. Deficiency of this vitamin is well-known for causing the disease 'beriberi', that mainly affects the nervous, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems. Thiamine is crucial for several biochemical processes, taking place within our body. The active form of the vitamin, 'thiamine pyrophosphate' acts as a conenzyme in carbohydrate metabolism. It is also required to release energy from glucose, and for the breakdown of fats. So, the vitamin is vital for energy production and at the same time, it maintains the normal functioning of the digestive, nervous as well as cardiovascular systems. However, only plants, bacteria and fungi are endowed with the ability to synthesize thiamine. So, animals including humans have to meet their requirement for this vitamin from food and hence, insufficient dietary intake as well as poor absorption can result in thiamine deficiency.

What Causes Thiamine Deficiency?
Poor dietary intake, alcohol abuse, malnutrition, persistent vomiting and diarrhea, renal problems and liver diseases, are some of the most common causes of this deficiency. Alcohol abusers are more likely to face the serious consequences of this condition because they are often observed to not consume a healthy diet containing enough thiamine, while excess alcohol damages the absorption capacity of the small intestine. Apart from these, certain conditions like hyperthyroidism, pregnancy, lactation and fever can increase the requirement of thiamine in the body significantly, and thereby, cause a deficiency. Many times, people dependent on kidney dialysis and intravenous administration of nutrients can also be observed to experience deficiency of thiamine. Again, excess consumption of certain foods and beverages like tea, coffee, baking soda, raw and fermented fish, live yeast and betel nuts can inhibit thiamine absorption and result in deficiency.

Thiamine Deficiency Signs
It is a well-known fact that it causes the disease, beriberi, which can be mainly classified into two types. They are dry beriberi and wet beriberi; the former affects the nervous system, while the latter is associated with cardiovascular problems. Severe deficiency of thiamine can ultimately damage the brain. Human body can neither synthesis thiamine, nor it can store it for a long time. Hence, its symptoms can appear within two to three weeks from the depletion of its level in the body. The most common symptoms are irritability, fatigue, poor concentration and memory loss. If the deficiency continues, then peripheral neuropathy can take place due to damage to the peripheral nervous system. The symptoms of this condition are muscle weakness, mainly in the legs, loss of sensation, and tingling or burning sensation in the legs.

Other symptoms that can be caused by thiamine deficiency are, brain deterioration, reflex deterioration, decreased vision, sleep disturbances and depression. If the deficiency affects the cardiovascular system (wet beriberi), then a person can experience breathing difficulties, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, fast heart rate and excessive sweating. On the other hand, symptoms of this condition which are related to the gastrointestinal system include, loss of appetite, constipation, abdominal discomfort, indigestion and abdominal pain. If not treated or taken enough thiamine to reverse the deficiency, it can ultimately cause Wernicke's encephalopathy and Korsakoff's syndrome. These conditions can lead to confusion, problems in eye movement, forgetfullness, learning problems and then to dementia.

Treatment for Thiamine Deficiency
Mild thiamine deficiency can be reversed with an adequate intake of thiamine rich foods like, whole grains and lean meat. However, an acute and severe deficiency may require intravenous administration of thiamine. After a few days, when the patient's condition improves, oral vitamin supplements can be given. However, the most important and permanent treatment is to eat sufficient amount of foods, which are rich in thiamine. The most important food sources of thiamine are, whole grains, cereals, fish, lean meat (especially pork), dried beans, soy beans, yeast, oatmeal, flax seeds, brown rice, potatoes, eggs, rye, asparagus and chicken, beef or pork liver.

Knowledge about this vitamin deficiency is also important for detecting the condition in the early stage, so that, it can be reversed immediately with sufficient intake of thiamine. This can prevent major complications associated with the deficiency of this vitamin. At the same time, avoiding the risk factors for thiamine deficiency like alcoholism, is equally important for thwarting the risks associated with it.