Supplements Information

Vitamin B1 and Its Importance to Mental Health


Vitamin B1 also called as thiamine is one of the eight vitamins that make up the powerful group called as the Vitamin B complex. Like all of the B vitamins this nutrient plays a great role in the good health of the body as well as a sound mental health. Proper care and caution should always be considered when it comes to taking in these nutrients especially when it comes to dosages as some may tend to overdose which is never really a good thing and is actually quite as bad as not having any at all.

Vitamin B1 serves many purposes in the body. It is an essential part of converting carbohydrates to energy and necessary to the proper functioning of the nervous system, the heart and the musculature system of the body. Thiamine is very important to the brain particularly in terms of emotional health and well being as well as being useful for focus and concentration.

There are a variety of physical conditions and diseases associated with deficiencies in Vitamin B1. Symptoms include pain, numbness and tingling in the extremities, muscle weakness and a lack of physical coordination particularly in the larger muscle masses that make up the leg muscles. A deficiency in thiamine can cause enlargement of the heart which can itself lead to congestive heart failure and lung congestion. A severe deficiency in Vitamin B1 can lead to nerve damage, brain damage and even death. Mental symptoms associated with a serious lack of Vitamin B include fatigue, psychosis and confusion.

These are a few serious diseases specifically associated with a deficiency of Vitamin B1 including the notorious beriberi disease. There are also two specific types of brain damage associated with severely low levels of Vitamin B1. One is the Korsakoff syndrome which results in confusion and short term memory loss. Another is the Wernicke's Disease which has symptoms that include vision disturbances and irregularities, an unsteady walk and mental confusion.

Despite the obvious importance of Vitamin B1 to many of the body's important functions a great deal of people regularly fail to meet the recommended daily intake levels of this vitamin. Alcoholics are particularly vulnerable to being deficient in Vitamin B1 because alcohol ruins the B vitamins. Illnesses that force bodily fluids out from the body such as chronic diarrhea can deplete the body's levels of thiamine because it is a water-soluble vitamin and the body needs to have its steady supply renewed every day. There are also rare conditions that interfere with the body's ability to use Vitamin B1 properly.

Dietary supplements are an affordable, safe and effective way to consistently meet the recommended daily intake levels of Vitamin B1. It is especially important however, when taking supplements to use them with care and attention because taking too much Vitamin B1 can cause adverse side effects and even serious health problems. As with all substances there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Moderation is always key. While there are certain health situations that do call for higher than average doses of this powerful B vitamin high dosages should only be taken while under the direct supervision of a qualified health care professional. Like any other medication or dietary supplement Vitamin B1 supplements should always be kept well out of the reach of children.

------------------------- Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR'S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes. -------------------------

Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about Vitamins, please go to: http://vitamins.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/


MORE RESOURCES:

National Post

NFL news: Bengals linebacker Blackstock suspended for four games
Kansas City Star, MO - 3 hours ago
Blackstock, a four-year veteran, said in a statement that one of his nutritional supplements contained an ingredient banned by the league. ...
Bengals' Blackstock gets ban for violating substance policy Reuters
Bengals LB Blackstock suspended four games Pro Football Weekly
RB Watson rejoins Bengals NFL News
all 244 news articles


Supplements Continue to Be a Priority for Consumers
MarketWatch - Oct 6, 2008
When it comes to the downturn in the economy, many dietary supplement users don't intend on cutting back their supplement regimen. According to a new survey ...


Better Nutrition's Best in Supplements Award Goes to Maximum ...
NPIcenter (press release), Canada - 14 hours ago
Maximum Living® Quality Supplements has been bestowed with the highly prestigious Best in Supplements Award in the Mineral Category, as sponsored by Better ...


Common Dietary Supplements Don't Help Arthritis
LiveScience.com, NY - 19 hours ago
The natural supplement combo of glucosamine and chondroitin, taken to relieve arthritis pain, has struck out again, proving to be no more effective than a ...


Try a supplement with multivitamin
Chicago Sun-Times, United States - 22 hours ago
So when you try a multivitamin again, also try taking a probiotic supplement. There's a chance that these helpful bacteria could restore the balance among ...


Food Fears Prompt Moms to Supplement Child's Diet
FLEXNEWS, France - 50 minutes ago
These included pressuring children to eat, restricting access to certain foods, using high-energy supplements, using added sugar, and giving children ...


Ed Blonz: Fish-oil supplements not a risk for gout sufferers
Contra Costa Times, CA - Oct 7, 2008
Does that also apply to fish-oil supplements? I also read that high doses of vitamin C are not recommended. Can you shed any light on this? ...


NFL Notes: The NFL suspends reserve LB Blackstock
Houston Chronicle, United States - 1 hour ago
The fourth-year veteran said in a statement that one of his nutritional supplements contained an ingredient banned by the league. ...
Broncos’ Kicker Has His Eye On a Record New York Times
all 37 news articles


The Money Times

Popular Supplements Don't Work Against Arthritis: Study
U.S. News & World Report, DC - Sep 30, 2008
30 (HealthDay News) -- The popular supplements glucosamine and chondroitin are no better than a placebo at preventing cartilage loss in knees of people with ...
So much for those knee supplements -- probably Los Angeles Times
Study: Cartilage loss not slowed by supplements Salt Lake Tribune
Study: Popular supplements ineffective against arthritis USA Today
The Money Times - TheMedGuru
all 83 news articles


Supplement maker BSN wants to be `Gatorade of UFC'
MiamiHerald.com, FL - Oct 6, 2008
The party was hosted by Bio-Engineered Supplements & Nutrition, a Boca Raton company that has emerged as one of the leading manufacturers of sports ...

Supplements - Google News

home | site map
© 2006