In general, if your daily diet contains some of the following items, you're less likely to be deficient in Thiamine:
Beef Liver
Dairy Products
Wheat Germ
Fortified Cereals
Meat
Tuna
However, people who drink alcohol is an exception to this, because alcohol destroys Thiamins. Therefore, additional Thiamine supplements is highly recommended for these people. (Approx. 10-100 mg of Thiamine supplements are needed daily)
If you fall into the following categories, then you may be at risk of thiamine deficiency:
The Elderly (people over 55 years of age)
People who are sick or injured
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
People who have diabetes
Anyone under long term stress
People with liver disease
People who just had undergone surgery
Studies have indicated second hand smokers are likely to be deficient in all vitamins especially Vitamin C, Vitamin B, and Vitamin E. Therefore, if you have a smoker in the family, consider taking some extra vitamin supplements to avoid deficiency and keep healthy.
Vitamin B1 Thiamine Deficiency Symptoms
Beriberi is common in people who are severely deficient in Thiamine. This is characterized by neurological symptoms, cardiovascular abnormalities, and edema. People with this disease are characterized by multiple inflammatory changes in the nerves, producing great muscular debility (loss in strength in muscles), a painful rigidity of the limbs, and cachexy.
Other than getting the beriberi disease, Thiamine deficiency may cause pain or tingling in arms or legs, decreased reflex activity, heart enlargement and many other health problems.
Some minor Thiamine deficiency symptoms include:
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Nausea
Mental problems, such as rolling of eyeballs, depression, memory loss, difficulty concentrating
Rapid heartbeat
Gastrointestinal disorders
Tender, atrophied muscles
Wernike's encephalopathy
Thiamine is a basic Vitamin B. It is water-soluble. It works closely with other B vitamins. You need Thiamine to convert food to energy and to keep your brain, nervous system and heart running well. An healthy adult should take between 1.1 to 1.2 mg of Thiamine every day which is not very much.
