Vitamin B-1

Vitamin B-1 is a water soluble vitamin that readily enters and exits the body daily so it must be taken internally on a daily basis.

Vitamin B-1is helps maintain a normal metabolism and helps burn carbohydrates. Vitamin B-1is a group of water-soluble vitamins that participates in many of the chemical reactions in the body. It is also called thiamine, thiamin and aneurin.

Vitamin B-1is plays an essential role as a cofactor in key reactions in carbohydrate metabolism. It is also involved in the metabolism of branched-chain amino acids and may have non-coenzyme (non-cofactor) roles in excitable cells.

Use Vitamin B-1 as directed by your doctor.

• Take Vitamin B-1 by mouth with or without food.

Vitamin B-1 is essential for the body to be able to use carbohydrate as an energy source as well as for metabolising amino acids. A person's requirements for Vitamin B-1 are increased when they are relying heavily on carbohydrates for their main source of energy. In humans, Vitamin B-1 can be synthesized in the large intestine as thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP). The main circulating form of Vitamin B-1 is thiamine diphosphate (TDP) which is found almost completely in red blood cells. TPP is too large a molecule to be absorbed across the intestinal mucosa. It requires the use of an enzyme to cleave the smaller thiamin molecule out of the compound. TDP is a cofactor for several enzymes - pyruvate dehydrogenase and transketolase (activity is sometimes measured as an indicator of vitamin B1 deficiency) and thiamine triphosphate is thought to be important in nerve conduction.

Vitamin B-1 is needed to process carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Every cell of the body requires Vitamin B-1 to form the fuel the body runs on - ATP. Nerve cells require vitamin B1 in order to function normally. Vitamin B-1 assists in blood formation, carbohydrate metabolism, and the production of hydrochloric acid, which is important for proper digestion.

Vitamin B-1 also enhances circulation and optimizes cognitive activity and brain function. Vitamin B-1 has a positive effect on energy, growth, normal appetite, and learning capacity, and is needed for muscle tone of the intestines, stomach, and heart. Vitamin B-1 acts as an antioxidant, protecting the body from generative effects of aging, alcohol consumption, and smoking. May improve glucose tolerance and retard arterial blockages, especially in diabetics.

If you miss a dose of Vitamin B-1 and are taking it regularly, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Store Vitamin B-1 at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep in a tight, light-resistant container. Keep Vitamin B-1out of the reach of children and away from pets.

• Vitamin B-1 is a water-soluble vitamin and as such, it is least likely to reach toxic levels. There is little danger of thiamin toxicity when it is taken orally. However, there is an exception. When Vitamin B-1 is taken intravenously (injections), it has been reported to cause anaphylactic shock in few people.

Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome:

• Dry and splitting hair; gingivitis (inflammation of the gums); bleeding gums; rough, dry, scaly skin; decreased wound-healing rate; easy bruising; nosebleeds; weakened tooth enamel; swollen and painful joints; anemia; decreased ability to fight infection; possible weight gain because of slowed metabolism.

Vitamin B-1 has an important function in nerve membranes and in nerve conduction, although the mechanism is unclear. Vitamin B-1 has a specific role in neurophysiology separate from its co-enzyme function. It works at the nerve cell membrane to allow displacement so that sodium ions can freely cross the membrane.