Vitamin B1 is water-soluble and is easily absorbed in the body. It is not stored for a long time because it is secreted through urine. Hence, it is essential to take vitamin B1 daily in order to maintain and keep you healthy. Vitamin B1 belongs to group of vitamins called B-complex.
B-complex is a combination of B1( thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5(Pantothenic acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), B7(Biotin), B9(Biotin) and B12 (Cyanocobalamin). Each vitamin member of the group has its own properties and plays a prominent role in proper functioning of the body. All B-complex vitamins are water-soluble vitamins.
Thiamine is useful for metabolizing carbohydrates and proteins, starch and sugar into the energy which our bodies needs. This vitamin also influences a variety of physiological functions, including nervous system and muscle functioning, proper digestion, enhance blood formation and circulation, cardiovascular systems and many more.
However our body cells have thiamine derivatives and thiamine-dependent enzymes. If these derivatives are not present in our body, there will be a deficiency of thiamine in our body. Vitamin B1 deficiency would adversely affect all of the organ systems.
People who are deficient in thiamine have the symptom of loss of appetite called anorexia, beriberi, indigestion or constipation, and muscle tenderness, particularly in the calf muscles, dysfunction of nerves such as “pins and needles” sensations or numbness, especially in the legs, metabolic coma and death, beriberi, brain disorder called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome,and optic neuropathy, heart damage, cataracts and many more.
