Signs of Thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency in the body

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi Ngoc - General Internal Medicine - Endocrinology - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital. Doctor has more than 10 years of studying, researching and working in the field of endocrinology.
Thiamin was the first B vitamin that scientists discovered. This is why its name is vitamin B1. Like other B vitamins, thiamin is water-soluble and helps the body turn food into energy.
The body needs thiamine to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - this is a molecule that transports energy in cells. Some signs that your body lacks vitamin B1 include:

1. Loss of appetite

A common early symptom of thiamine deficiency is loss of appetite. Scientists believe that thiamine plays an important role in the regulation of satiety. It helps control the saturation center of the person. When a vitamin B1 deficiency occurs, it makes the body feel full, even without food. This can lead to a lack of appetite.

2. Tired

Fatigue can happen slowly or suddenly. It can range from a mild drop in energy to extreme exhaustion, which can depend on the severity of the deficiency. Since fatigue is such a vague symptom with many possible causes, it can often be overlooked as a sign of thiamine deficiency. However, considering the important role thiamine plays in converting food to fuel, it's not surprising that fatigue and lack of energy are common symptoms of thiamine deficiency. Some studies show that a lack of thiamin makes your body tired.

3. Discomfort

Discomfort is a feeling of agitation and frustration. When you are irritable, you often become upset quickly. Discomfort can be caused by various physical, psychological, and medical conditions. Irritability is noted as one of the first symptoms of thiamine deficiency. It can happen in a few days or weeks.

4. Nervous effects

Thiamine deficiency can affect motor nerves. If left untreated, damage to your nervous system from thiamine deficiency can cause changes in your reflexes. Frequently reduced or absent knee, ankle, and triceps reflexes, and as the deficiency progresses, can affect your coordination and ability to walk.

5. A sharp pain in the arms and legs

An unusual tingling, stinging, burning, or pins-and-needles sensation in the upper and lower extremities is a symptom known as paresthesia. Peripheral nerves to your hands and feet depend heavily on thiamine activity. In cases of deficiency, peripheral nerve damage and paresthesia may occur. In fact, the patient experienced paresthesia in the early stages of thiamine deficiency.

6. Weak muscles

Generalized muscle weakness is not uncommon, and its cause is often difficult to determine. Briefly, temporary muscle weakness happens to most people at some point. However, persistent, persistent muscle weakness with no apparent cause or reason could be a sign of thiamine deficiency. In many cases, patients with thiamine deficiency have developed muscle weakness.

7. Blurred vision

Thiamine deficiency can be one of many causes of blurred vision. Severe thiamine deficiency can cause swelling of the optic nerve, causing optic neuropathy. This can lead to blurred vision, or even loss of vision. Many documented cases have associated blurred vision and vision loss with severe thiamine deficiency. Furthermore, the patient's vision improved significantly after thiamine supplementation.

8. Nausea and vomiting

Although gastrointestinal symptoms are less common with thiamine deficiency, they can still occur. These cases have been reported of gastrointestinal symptoms that resolved after thiamine supplementation. Vomiting may be more common in infants with thiamine deficiency.

9. Change in heart rate

Your heart rate is a measure of how many times your heart beats per minute. Interestingly, it can be affected by your thiamine levels. Not enough thiamine can lead to a slower-than-normal heart rate. Marked reductions in heart rate have been observed in studies involving thiamine-deficient rats. Cardiac arrhythmias caused by thiamine deficiency may increase fatigue, dizziness, and a higher risk of fainting.

10. Difficulty breathing

Given that thiamine deficiency can affect heart function, shortness of breath may occur, especially with exertion. This is because thiamine deficiency can sometimes lead to heart failure, which occurs when the heart becomes less efficient at pumping blood. This can eventually lead to a buildup of fluid in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. It's important to note that shortness of breath can have many causes, so this symptom alone is not usually a sign of a thiamine deficiency.

11 Delirium

Delirium is a serious condition that leads to confusion, reduced awareness, and the inability to think clearly. In severe cases, thiamine deficiency can cause Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which involves two closely related types of brain damage. Its symptoms often include delirium, memory loss, confusion, and hallucinations. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is often associated with thiamine deficiency due to alcohol abuse. However, thiamine deficiency is also common in elderly patients and may contribute to the appearance of delirium
Thiamine deficiency can present in a variety of ways and symptoms are often nonspecific, making it difficult for identification. Symptoms of thiamine deficiency are usually easily improved with dietary vitamin B1 supplementation or oral supplementation.

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