In this article
Thiamine is also known as Vitamin B1. It's essential for healthy brain function.
It's needed for the function of dendrites. Dendrites are the parts of your neurons that send and receive information. Without thiamine, dendrites are less able to do this.
Thiamine is available in plants and food, as well as in vitamin supplements. In serious cases, a patient may need intravenous (IV) thiamine injections.
These are the main types of food that have thiamine:
In the United States, it's common to find bread, cereals, and infant formulas fortified with thiamine. For this reason, thiamine deficiency is rare.
Thiamine helps the body to use carbohydrates as energy. It also enables the flow of electrolytes to and from muscle and nerve cells.
It can reduce diabetic complications, heart issues, and prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia. It's characterized by severe memory loss. According to the NHS, lack of thiamine can kill your neurons, making Alzheimer's more likely.4
As mentioned earlier, thiamine deficiency is often caused by alcohol use disorder (AUD). Roughly 80% of chronic alcoholic patients suffer from thiamine deficiency.3
This is because alcohol reduces the absorption of vitamin B1. Depending on the person, some with AUD absorb no thiamine at all.
This is why those with AUD are often malnourished.
Early symptoms of thiamine deficiency include:
Thiamine deficiency can lead to beriberi, a heart and circulatory disease.
There are two main types of beriberi:
In extreme cases beriberi can lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS), a devastating brain disorder caused by thiamine deficiency.
WKS is actually made up of two separate disorders that often go together: Wernicke's Encephalopathy and Korsakoff Syndrome.
WKS is sometimes referred to as alcohol-related dementia.
Wernicke's Encephalopathy usually develops first and has three symptoms:
Korsakoff Syndrome is a severe brain disorder that causes severe short-term memory impairment . In rare cases, seizures are possible.
Korsakoff Syndrome develops in 80% of people with untreated Wernicke’s Encephalopathy.4
WKS requires immediate administration of high doses of thiamine to mitigate the effects of the disease, such as eye symptoms.
In more severe cases, in which clinical symptoms have been present for an extended period, improvements in motor coordination skills and memory may be minimal.
Clinicians may prescribe oral thiamine to those with AUD suffering from thiamine deficiency.
Thiamine administered through an IV drip is more effective. It can replenish thiamine stores faster and prevent any clinical symptoms or disorders from worsening.
If you or a loved one is suffering from alcohol addiction, there is a range of options available that can place you on the path to recovery. You can select from the following:
In this article
This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:Verify here.