Basic Nutrition: Thiamine

Definition: Thiamine, or vitamin B-1, is a member of the water-soluble family of B-complex vitamins. It's required for glucose metabolism so your body can use carbohydrates as energy. Thiamine is also required for normal heart, muscle and nerve function.

Daily Requirements

Males

1 to 3 years: 0.5 milligrams per day
4 to 8 years: 0.6 milligrams per day
9 to 13 years: 0.9 milligrams per day
14+ years: 1.2 milligrams per day

Females

1 to 3 years: 0.5 milligrams per day
4 to 8 years: 0.6 milligrams per day
9 to 13 years: 0.9 milligrams per day
14 to 18 years: 1.0 milligrams per day
19+ years: 1.1 milligrams per day

Thiamine is found in legumes, fish, lean meats, whole grains and fortified breads and cereals. Deficiency may occur in people who consume large amounts of alcohol.

An extreme thiamine deficiency may result in a brain disorder called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Thiamine supplementation is safe, thought it is probably not needed for people who eat a healthy, balanced diet.

Also Known As: Vitamin B1

_Sources:

_{Medline Plus. "Thiamine." http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002401.htm."}

_{Food and Nutrition Board Institute of Medicine. "Dietary Reference Intakes." http://www.iom.edu/Object.File/Master/21/372/0.pdf.}