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Vitamin B1

Supplement Forms/Alternate Names :

Thiamine, thiamin

Introduction

Vitamin B1 is found in nuts, beans, and yeast. The body needs it to create energy. Vitamin B1 has been used to improve heart health and ease digestion. It has also been used to manage thiamine deficiency. It can be taken as a pill or powder. It can also be injected into the bloodstream or muscle by a healthcare provider.

Dosages

1 to 1.2 milligrams per day for adults

What Research Shows

May Be Effective

Heart failure —may improve heart function and ease symptoms D1, D2
Menstrual cramps—may ease pain E1, E2
Premenstrual syndrome —may ease symptoms F1

Unlikely to Be Effective

Glaucoma—unlikely to provide benefit C1

Not Enough Data to Assess

Alcohol abuse A1
Alzheimer disease B1
Heart Failure D1
Wernicke encephalopathy in anorexia nervosa G1

Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.

Safety Notes

It is likely safe to vitamin B1 in small doses for a short time. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to take for a long period.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take high doses of vitamin B1.

Interactions

Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.

References

A
Alcohol Abuse

A1
Day E, Bentham PW, et al. Thiamine for prevention and treatment of Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome in people who abuse alcohol. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(7):CD004033.

B
Alzheimer Disease

B1
Rodríguez-Martín JL, Qizilbash N, et al. Thiamine for Alzheimer's disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;(2):CD001498.

C
Glaucoma

C1
Ramdas WD, Schouten JSAG, et al. The Effect of Vitamins on Glaucoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2018 Mar 16;10(3). pii: E359.

D
Heart Failure

D1
DiNicolantonio JJ, Niazi AK, et al. Thiamine supplementation for the treatment of heart failure: a review of the literature. Congest Heart Fail. 2013 Jul-Aug;19(4):214-222.

D2
Jain A, Mehta R, et al. Determining the Role of Thiamine Deficiency in Systolic Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review. J Card Fail. 2015;21(12):1000-1007.

E
Menstrual Cramps

E1
Hosseinlou A, Alinejad V, et al. The effects of fish oil capsules and vitamin B1 tablets on duration and severity of dysmenorrhea in students of high school Urmia-Iran. Glob J Health Sci. 2014;6(7):124-129.

E2
Pattanittum P, Kunyanone N, et al. Dietary supplements for dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Mar 22;3:CD002124.

F
Premenstrual Syndrome

F1
Avdollahifard S, Rahmanian Koshkaki A, et al. The effects of vitamin B1 on ameliorating the premenstrual syndrome symptoms. Glob J Health Sci. 2014;6(6):144-153.

G
Wernicke Encephalopathy in Anorexia Nervosa

G1
Oudman E, Wijnia JW, et al. Preventing Wernicke's encephalopathy in anorexia nervosa: A systematic review. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2018 Oct;72(10):774-779.

Revision Information

Reviewer: EBSCO NAT Review Board Eric Hurwitz, DC
Review Date: 07/2019
Update Date: 03/26/2020

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This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.