Thiamine and Its Role in Glucose Metabolism
Thiamine is mainly known for its role in glucose metabolism, converting glucose into energy. In glucose metabolism, thiamine is a necessary cofactor in the pyruvate dehydrogenase enzyme, which means that without thiamine, your cells can’t use glucose and oxygen to make fuel as ATP.
Thiamin also plays several other bodily roles, including amino and fatty acid metabolism. If you want your cells to produce adequate energy and run properly, then you need thiamine. Energy production will be determined by the amount of thiamine in the cell, so it’s a rate-limiting factor. In many ways, thiamine acts as a gatekeeper in energy production. If adequate thiamine is in supply, then energy production will likely be limited by other factors like fatty acid supply or glucose, among other essential vitamins.
Thiamine in Fatty Acids, Nucleic Acids, and Neurotransmitter Balance
Thiamin is also necessary for synthesising new fatty acids and nucleic acids, most commonly DNA and RNA. Lastly, it’s required for the balance of neurotransmitters in your brain.
Dietary Sources of Thiamine
Most people get high quantities of thiamin from the food they eat. Foods rich in thiamin include legumes, yeast, brown rice, pork, and fortified foods, such as breakfast cereals. However, heating foods containing thiamin can reduce its content. Thiamin can also be taken as an add-on; orally.
Risk Factors for Thiamine Deficiency
People who have bariatric surgery, have conditions such as HIV/AIDS, are chronic alcoholics, or use drugs such as the diuretic furosemide (Lasix), are at risk of a thiamin deficiency. Thiamin deficiency leads to the neurological condition beriberi or Wernicke-Korsakoff’s syndrome, which involves peripheral nerve damage. People also take thiamin to treat inherited metabolic disorders.
Uses of Thiamine
Thiamine is highly beneficial for treating digestive disorders like low appetite, diarrhoea, colitis, and ulcers. It is helpful for the enhancement of body immunity and physical performance. Thiamine is also used for preventing memory loss, boosting positivity, and fighting against memory loss.
Thiamine’s Role in Preventing Neurological Disorders
In addition to beriberi, thiamine prevents Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a neurodegenerative disorder caused by thiamine deficiency. Individuals who develop Wernicke-Korsakoff drink significant quantities of alcohol and are malnourished or fast for prolonged lengths of time. These sets of people will often experience altered mental status, involuntary eye movements, poor balance, and double vision. Muscle confusion and coordination can be improved by high doses of thiamine intake, but memory loss will less or more remain.
Thiamine and Alcohol Withdrawal
Those suffering from alcohol withdrawal can use thiamine to ease their symptoms. Supplemental thiamine has been observed to act as a defensive measure against the metabolic imbalances brought about by excessive alcohol consumption in the body.
Thiamine and Heart Health
Thiamine may reduce the risk of heart disease by producing acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that helps the heart function properly by relaying messages to and from nerves. Additionally, thiamine supplements boost the heart function of people suffering from congestive heart failure worldwide.
Thiamine for Metabolism and Energy Production
A healthy metabolism requires thiamine supplements. This is because thiamine is needed for the body to generate adenosine triphosphate, which is the molecule that carries energy. Additionally, thiamine makes possible the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose and helps break fats and proteins.
Thiamine and Eye Health
Thiamine, in combination with other B-complex vitamins, can reduce the chances of developing glaucoma and cataracts.
Additional Health Benefits of Thiamine
Thiamine is believed to ward off numerous other health conditions:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Canker sores
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Fibromyalgia
- Human immunodeficiency virus
- Multiple sclerosis
Thiamine helps the body withstand stress, maintains nerve function, improves brain function by acting as a neurotransmitter, and maintains muscle tone in the digestive tract.
Symptoms of Thiamine Deficiency
Loss of Appetite
Experiencing a typical loss of appetite is one of the earliest symptoms of thiamine deficiency. Losing your appetite can lead to unintentional weight loss, which can be problematic or unsafe. Thiamine may play an essential role in regulating hunger and fullness cues in the brain.
Fatigue
Thiamine deficiency can show up as tiredness, which may come quickly or over time, depending on the severity of the deficiency. Some sources suggest fatigue can occur within a few weeks of deficiency.
Irritability
A thiamine deficiency causes changes in your general mood, such as making you more irritable or easily upset. Babies with thiamine deficiency customarily express increased irritability as a symptom.
Nerve Damage
The most common side effects of prolonged and severe thiamine deficiency (beriberi) are nerve damage and neuropathy. Symptoms include tingling limbs, mental confusion, muscle weakness, and rapid heartbeat.
Tingling in Legs and Arms
Tingling, also called paresthesia, can be a symptom of beriberi and thiamine deficiency. It is caused by nerves that reach the arms and legs being affected by insufficient thiamine.
