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Beech Lodge private Nursing Home, Ireland
Why Is Thiamin So Important?
By Robert Nelson
What Is Thiamin?
Known as Vitamin B1, thiamin was the very first B-Vitamin
discovered. As an integral part of the B-complex spectrum
of vitamins, thiamin is primarily involved in energy
metabolism – turning foods into a useable energy
source for the body, known as ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
All of the B-vitamins work together to produce ATP,
and each different vitamin is also involved in more
specific aspects of the human body. Thiamin helps support
healthy nerves and a healthy heart, is involved in positively
influencing mood, and is also now considered useful
for soothing heartburn.
How does Thiamin Work?
Besides playing an important role in the metabolism
of carbohydrates, fats and protein, thiamin is also
necessary to maintaining heart health. The human heart
pumps blood in and out of its chambers numerous times
a day, feeding blood through vessels to the various
parts of the human body – it is the hardest working
organ in the human body. Regular daily intake of Thiamin
is essential to people suffering from congestive heart
failure (CHF) because it has been shown to improve the
heart’s “pumping power.” Thiamin has
been found in very low levels in those people with CHF.
Long term use of diuretic drugs, which are often prescribed
to CHF patients, deplete the body’s storage of
Thiamin. One study of CHF patients on diuretics showed
that taking at least 200 mg. of Thiamin each day for
6 weeks improved the heart’s pumping power by 22%.
Not only does Thiamin help support a healthy working
heart, it also helps promote healthy nerve function
throughout the body. Although there are a number of
diseases that affect nerve health, diabetics especially
suffer from nerve damage, if the disease is uncontrolled,
resulting in a numbing of the extremities, usually detected
first as a tingling in the hands and/or feet. Thiamin
may be used to support overall nerve health, ultimately
minimizing numbness and tingling and helping to protect
against this condition.
Often recommended by health professionals for mood
disorders, the intake of Thiamin to boost mood is valuable,
even when the vitamin is not deficient in the body.
One study of a group of college-age women who were not
deficient in Thiamin reported improved mood, energy
and alertness after just 2 months of taking 50 mg. of
Thiamin a day. And yet another study showed that taking
10 mg. of thiamin each day for 3 months improved energy
levels in the elderly, along with lowered blood pressure,
healthy weight loss and an improved quality of sleep.
Recent reports claim that Thiamin may be helpful in
treating the memory-loss associated with Alzheimer’s
disease, although this has not yet been fully proven.
Like all of the B-complex Vitamins, the body requires
a steady dose of Thiamin each day to function at optimal
levels because it is water-soluble. Deficiency can have
a negative effect on mood, including increased irritability
and depression, as well as result in increased muscle
fatigue. Severe deficiency results in a condition known
as beriberi, resulting in nerve damage, muscle loss,
loss of mental abilities, paralysis and eventually death.
Since Thiamin is a water-soluble vitamin, any excess
that is taken in and not used by the body, will simply
be excreted in the urine, so toxicity is not a concern.
Thiamin is commonly added back to milled foods marketed
(as “enriching”) to prevent deficiency. Thiamin
is found specifically in enriched grain products, dried
bean, nuts & seeds, lean pork and whole grains.
It is important to be aware that drinking diuretics,
such as coffee, tea, or soda, can deplete Thiamin levels
so it is important to drink those in moderation, or
be sure to take extra Thiamin.
Robert Nelson is a Nutrition Staff Writer for Super
Vitamin Power, Distributors of the Vitamin Power line
of nutritional products. All of the products needed
for optimal health can be found at: http://www.supervitaminpower.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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