Thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1, plays a crucial role in cellular energy production throughout our body. While its importance is well established, thiamine deficiency is usually diagnosed very late, due to its diverse and sometimes subtle manifestations. I’ve spoken briefly about the topic before, on a video. I’m repeating the topic again, because it doesn’t get the importance of deserves.
https://youtu.be/ESRpmX_TfF8?si=cCQ06-0GbGMdZK-n
The Fundamental Role of Thiamine
Thiamine is central to energy processing in every cell of our body. Because of this universal requirement, a deficiency can manifest in numerous ways, with the most energy-demanding tissues showing symptoms first. Usually. Think of thiamine as the key that unlocks cellular energy production – without it, our cells struggle to function efficiently.
How Thiamine Deficiency Affects Different Body Systems
The brain, being one of the most energy-hungry organs, is particularly vulnerable to thiamine deficiency. Symptoms can include:- Cognitive impairment or “brain fog”- Memory problems due to hippocampus dysfunction- Mood swings and personality changes linked to limbic system effects- Brainstem issues affecting blood pressure and circulation
The effects extend beyond the brain to other body systems too
Cardiovascular: Heart enlargement and potential cardiac failure, a predisposition to arrhythmia due to dysfunction in both the heart muscle, and the nerves controlling the electrical activity of the heart. –
Peripheral Nerves: Tingling sensations, numbness and reduced nerve function. Part of these symptoms are also due to loss of the myelin sheath of nerves. –
Muscular System: Post-exercise fatigue and persistent soreness, similar to symptoms seen in Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome-
Skin: Various issues including scaling, dandruff, acne, and dry skin-
Immune System: Both overactivity (leading to autoimmune conditions) and underactivity (increasing infection risk)-
Digestive System: Slowed motility and irritable bowel symptoms-
Thyroid Function: Typically presenting as hypothyroidism
Understanding Thiamine Balance Thiamine levels in our body operate like a bank account. While some B1 can be synthesized by gut bacteria, our primary source remains dietary intake. This pool is constantly being depleted by:
- Carbohydrate and fat metabolism
- Protein and enzyme synthesis
- Detoxification processes
- Methylation pathways
Factors That Deplete Thiamine
Several common lifestyle factors can significantly impact thiamine levels:
- Physical, mental and emotional stress
- Environmental toxins
- Processed food consumption
- Coffee and alcohol intake
- Many common medications
Eight Steps to Improve Thiamine Status
1. Increase consumption of fresh, natural foods
2. Minimize processed foods, especially refined flour and sugar
3. Reduce smoking, alcohol, coffee, and tea.
4. Focus on digestive health to enhance absorption
5. Consider appropriate supplementation
6. Implement comprehensive stress management strategies, not just the mental, which is what most people think of, when they think of stress.
7. Address any bacterial or fungal overgrowth in the gut.
8. Maintain balanced energy intake and expenditure
Thiamine deficiency is widespread, but unrecognised, and the solutions are easy to implement, with next to no side effects, if done slow and steady.
The information above, is meant to empower you. Read up more on the topic and make your own changes. Some of the above will need medical supervision, but getting started is easy. You just need to take the first steps
Dr. Louis George 
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