Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Sources, Requirements, Absorption, Deficiency and Functions
Posted on : 25-11-2017 Posted by : Admin

Vitamin B1 Introduction

Christiaan Eijkman discovered vitamin B1 in 1897. Eijkman was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1929 for this discovery. Thiamine was the first B vitamin to be discovered by scientists, so the name B1. Thiamine is a water soluble vitamin and is mainly required by the body to mine nenrgy from food. It can be obtained from a vast variety of foods.

Thiamine is very important form proper functioning of body and brain. ATP the energy unit of the body are made with the help of thiamine. Thiamine works as a co factor for majority of the metabolic pathways of the body.

Sources of Thiamine

Meats, especially pork and liver are rich in thiamine and account for about one fourth of the average intake. Rice, Dry beans, peanuts and egg are good sources. Enriched and whole grain breads and cereals supply about one third of the daily thiamine intake.

Requirements of Thiamine

The requirement of thiamine depends on energy expenditure as it is needed to make ATP.

Absorption and storage of Thiamine

Free thiamine is readily absorbed from the small intestine. It is important to note that very little thiamine or no thiamine is stored in the body tissues and depletion can occur within 14 days. A part of the excess thiamine is excreted in urine or it is destroyed by the enzyme thiaminase.

Deficiency of Thiamine

With the deficiency in vita,min B1 the cell would not be able to get required energy and thus start to function abnormally. initially vitamin b1 deficiency shows up as fatigue, irritability, depression, deadness in leg and constipation. Beriberi, sometimes called “rice-eaters disease” is another deficiency symptom which is often seen in people whose chief diet is refined rice and is the most severe form of thiamine deficiency. Thiamine deficiency may also result in severe problems with central nervous system, muscular system, cardiac conducting system and digestive system.

Functions of Thiamine

The following are the functions of Vitamin B1

• Thiamine acts as a coenzyme in many enzyme systems.
• These are involved principally in the breakdown of glucose to yield energy.
• Thiamine also aids in the formation of ribose, a sugar that is an essential constituent of DNA and RNA, the carriers of the genetic code.
• The adequate level of thiamine provides healthy nerves, a good mental outlook, a normal appetite and food digestion.