Vitamin B1 is also called thiamine. It is a water soluble vitamin. That means the body can't store extra, so any excess is expelled in the urine. Since extra is eliminated as waste, it's important to keep a constant intake of thiamine in foods or supplements.
What Vitamin B1 Does
According to the Medline Plus vitamin encyclopedia, Vitamin B1 helps the body make use of the energy from carbohydrates. It helps the brain, spinal cord, skeletal muscles and heart muscles work properly, too.
Foods With Vitamin B1
B1 is found in plant and animal-based foods. Some examples are fish, peas, cereal, bread, pork and pasta.
Too Much Vitamin B1?
According to Medline Plus, there is no toxic affect associated with having too much vitamin B1.
What Happens When B1 Levels are Low
Vitamin B1 deficiency usually only happens in alcoholics because alcohol makes it hard to absorb this nutrient. Low vitamin B1 can cause nervous system damage and weakness or it can cause the disease, beriberi.
How Much Do We Need?
In general, adults need 1.0 to 1.2 mg of vitamin B1 every day. Children need less vitamin B1 than adults and pregnant or nursing women need more than other adults.
Tags: According Medline, According Medline Plus, Medline Plus