Thiamine (Vitamin B1) – Uses, Side Effects, & More

Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine)

• Thiamine was discovered while treating Beriberi. Mostly Beriberi is seen in people consuming polished rice as a staple diet.
• Thiamine is readily soluble in water. It is stable in acidic medium. In basic medium it gets destroyed even at room temperature. Using soda in food destroys thiamine.

Functions of thiamine—

1. Helpful in metabolism of carbohydrates— in our body, thiamine combines with phosphate to form thiamine pyrophosphate which helps in metabolism of carbohydrates.
2. Helpful in digestion— thiamine keeps the muscular motion of digestive system normal.
3. Helpful in maintaining normal rate of pulse— thiamine pyrophosphate is extremely important for carbohydrate metabolism. In the absence of pyrophosphate metabolism of carbohydrates does not take place properly as a result it cannot reach the muscles and tissues of pulses. As a result abnormality occurs.
4. Helpful in DNA and RNA formation— thiamine is important for the formation of DNA and RNA.
5. Thiamine increases germ killing capacity of white blood cells.
6. Thiamine plays an important role in keeping internal organs healthy and functional.

Effects of deficiency of thiamine—

• Thiamine deficiency is common in people who consume alcohol. Also people who consume carbohydrates in large quantity and consume lentils, green vegetables, etc in less quantity.
• Deficiency of thiamine causes Beriberi. It can be divided into 3 types—

(1) Dry Beriberi (in adults)

(2) Wet Beriberi (in adults)

(3)  Infantile Beriberi (in children)

1. Dry beriberi—

• it occurs in adults. It is known as dry beriberi because in this muscles get damaged severely and as a result a person becomes skinny.
• Symptoms— the vascular system gets affected. There is decreased muscle function, loss of sensation in legs, mental confusion, irritation, suicidal tendency are some of the symptions of abnormality of nervous system.

2. Wet beriberi—

• because of the occurauce of inflammation in the body this type of beriberi is   known as wet beriberi. Inflammation begins from legs and reaches arms, face and neck.
• Symptoms— heart becomes weak and there is unnatural change in heart rate, breathing becomes difficult. If Beriberi is not treated on time it may result in death due blockage in the heart.

3. Infantile beriberi—

• it occurs in children. If there is deficiency of vitamin B, in feeding mother or if the mother consumes polished rice in large quantity, deficiency of vitamin B, is seen in feeding mother’s milk. As a result there occurs deficiency of this vitamin in feed consuming babies. This disease can also be found in children who consume thiamine deficient food.
• Symptoms— muscles are damaged in this disease. Water gets filled up in the body. Heart and liver grow in size. Loss of appetite and damage to digestive capacity, vomiting, diarrhoea are some other symptoms.

4. Wernicke-Korsakoff Beriberi—

• this is a result of excess of thiamine deficiency, sease especially in people who daily consume large quantities of alcohol.
• Symptoms— eye muscles weaken and the rate of moving of eyeball increases unusually. Walk becomes abnormal.

Sources of thiamine—

• whole grains are main sources of thiamine. Thiamine is present in oil seeds, green vegetables, green peas, liver etc.

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Vitamins Questions and Answers :-

Que1. Which of the given was invented by Kazimierz Funk?
(a) Enzymes
(b) Hormones
(c) Vitamins
(d) Proteins

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Que2. What type of compounds are Vitamins?
(a) Organic Compound
(b) Inorganic Compound
(c) Living Organisms
(d) None of the above

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Que3. Which is also known as the “Accessory dietary factor”?
(a) Fats
(b) Vitamins
(c) Proteins
(d) Hormones

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Que4. Which is not an essential element for plant growth?
(a) Potassium
(b) Calcium
(c) Magnesium
(d) Sodium

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Que5. Which of the given has the highest calorie value per unit?
(a) Vitamins
(b) Proteins
(c) Fats
(d) Carbohydrates
Ans. ⇒ ????