Overview
Vitamin-B-1 (thiamin) — If you are dieting or eat irregularly, you should be supplementing with this vitamin.
The B-vitamins are required for energy production and the synthesis and metabolism of various biological substances. Your
body does not make them, so you must get an adequate amount in food or from supplements.
Severe B-1 deficiencies, which occur mainly in alcoholics and
people on bizarre diets, result in a potentially fatal condition
called ‘beriberi’. Lesser deficiencies, which can be caused by
pregnancy, hyperthyroidism, regular strenuous exercise, and
other stresses, are associated with generalized muscle weakness
and mental confusion.
Vitamin B-1 is involved in the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, from nerve cells, and plays an important role
in maintaining the health of the nervous system and heart muscle.
