Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is one of the most important members of the B group of vitamins. Also known as aneurin, this vitamin helps prevent neuritic and beriberi. B1 vitamin benefits include prevention of severe eye fatigue and neurodegeneration. Vitamin B1 deficiency can be caused by a number of factors and diseases such as alcoholism, HIV, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal illnesses.
Additional B1 vitamin benefits include keeping the mucous membranes of the body healthy and maintaining the cardiovascular, neurological, and muscular regions. Listed below are the top five signs of deficiency of vitamin B1:
- Deficiency of vitamin B1 may lead to chronic diseases. One of them is Beriberi which is a neurological and cardiovascular disease. There are three types of beriberi. One of them, called wet beriberi has been associated with cardiovascular disease and is one of the most chronic symptoms of the deficiency of vitamin B1. In addition, B1 vitamin benefits include prevention of lung congestion, increased heart rate, as well as heart failure.
- Another chronic symptom is dry beriberi which affects both the cardiovascular as well as the nervous system. Once again, B1 vitamin benefits include prevention of abnormal development of muscles and nerves, pricking and burning sensation in the toes and feet, leg cramps and atrophy or wasting of the muscles.
- Brain abnormalities are also one of the common signs of deficiency of vitamin B1. These abnormalities include the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. This disease causes various difficulties such as eye problems, difficulty walking, and general confusion. In worse cases, this could result in a coma and ultimately death.
- In addition, B1 vitamin benefits include prevention of infantile Beriberi. Deficiency of vitamin B1 in breastfeeding mothers may cause infants to partially lose their voice.
Numerous food sources of vitamin B1 exist. These include vegetables such as cauliflower, beans, carrots, and beetroot. In addition, rice, wheat, nuts and pulses also contain vitamin B1.
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