Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) is the first B Vitamin to be discovered by researchers. “Thio-vitamine” refers to its sulfur-containing content. It’s called B₁ because it was the first of the B complex vitamins to be identified.

It was Kanehiro Takaki, surgeon general of the Japanese navy back in 1884 that figured something was amiss. Sailors were dying on his ships from a disease called Beriberi. And Takaki surmised it had something to do with sailors eating only white rice.

It wasn’t until 1897 that Christiaan Eijkman, a military doctor in the Dutch East Indies figured out that the bran removed from white rice was causing problems. Something was missing in the diet.

In 1911, Polish biochemist Casimir Funk isolated what he called a “vitamine” from rice bran. Dutch chemists went on to isolate and crystallize the active agent in 1926. US chemist Robert Williams determined the structure of Vitamin B₁. And synthesized it in 1936.[i]

In Japan, it was found that insufficient thiamine led to a central nervous system disorder called Beriberi. But supplementing with thiamine alone didn’t help because of its poor bioavailability. A lot of thiamine was needed to cure Beriberi symptoms.

So Japanese scientists created a derivative of Vitamin B₁ called Sulbutiamine in an attempt to quell the health crisis within the Japanese population.

Sulbutiamine is far more bioavailable than standard thiamine. It is fat-soluble (thiamine is water-soluble) which helps it more easily cross the blood-brain barrier.

Advanced neurohackers add Sulbutiamine to their stack instead of standard Vitamin B₁ (thiamine) because it’s better absorbed and used by your brain than B₁.

Thiamine is a coenzyme used by your body to metabolize food for energy. And to maintain proper heart, nerve and brain function.

Thiamine also helps digest and extract energy from food. It turns nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the cellular energy source synthesized within mitochondria.

And thiamine helps convert carbohydrates into glucose. The energy your body uses for your brain and nervous system.

One more thing about this miracle B-vitamin. Thiamine contributes to the development of myelin sheaths which wrap around neurons to protect them from damage.

Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) helps:

• Brain Optimization: Thiamine is critical for increasing focus, energy, and preventing memory loss. And can ward off inflammation. Healthy brain function is crucial for good decision making.
• Neurotransmitters: Thiamine is essential for producing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). ACh is used to relay messages between neurons in your brain. And is critical for cognition, learning and memory.
• Mood: Thiamine helps your body withstand stress. A lack of energy can contribute to poor mood and motivation. Thiamine can boost your mood, and defend against depression and anxiety.

Overview

Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) is the first of the B-Complex vitamins identified. And designated B₁ as a result.

Japanese researchers were the first to determine that something was missing in the diet of those who ate only polished rice.

Polished rice is one of the first “processed foods”. And of course there were problems right from the start. The bran coating on rice kernels contained what was later identified as thiamine (Vitamin B₁).

The Japanese population were severely thiamine-deficient from this rice-only diet. Large numbers of the population were suffering from Beriberi. A central nervous system disorder caused by a lack of thiamine.

Once scientists determined it was thiamine that was behind a major, country-wide health crisis, they went on to develop Sulbutiamine. It was better absorbed by the brain than standard thiamine.

Your body does not produce thiamine on its own. So you must get it from food including beef, brewer’s yeast, legumes (beans, lentils), milk, nuts, oats, oranges, pork, rice, seeds, wheat, whole-grain cereals, and yeast.

But thiamine has poor bioavailability when taken as a nootropic supplement. A derivative of thiamine called Sulbutiamine is a fat-soluble compound that is easily digested. And readily crosses the blood-brain barrier.

Thiamine vs. Sulbutiamine: What’s the Difference?

Sulbutiamine is a synthetic version of Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine). It is two B₁ molecules chemically bonded together.

Thiamine is water-soluble and does not easily cross the blood-brain barrier. Sulbutiamine is a fat-soluble compound that easily crosses the blood-brain barrier.

Sulbutiamine functions in the body just like thiamine. But because it’s more bioavailable it’s more effective than thiamine.

How does Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) work in the Brain?

Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) boosts brain health and function in several ways. But two in particular stand out.

1. Thiamine increases levels of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP). TPP is directly involved in the citric acid (KREB) cycle in the brain.

This cycle breaks fatty acids, amino acids and monosaccharides into smaller molecules that produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) energy within your mitochondria. And provide the building blocks of the molecules needed to produce brain cells.

A deficiency of TPP can eventually show up as Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome. In our society this syndrome is typically caused by chronic alcoholism. But it can also occur after obesity (bariatric) surgery, Crohn’s disease, anorexia, diabetes, and if you’re on kidney dialysis.

Symptoms of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome include confusion, inability to form memories, loss of memories and muscle coordination, confabulation (making up stories) and vision changes. And can ultimately (and very rapidly) lead to coma and death.[ii]

Less severe cases of thiamine deficiency include fatigue, weight loss, irritability and confusion.

2. Thiamine also contributes to the production of the enzyme PDH which is essential for making the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. And for the synthesis of myelin, which forms a sheath around the axons of neurons. Ensuring these neurons can conduct signals.[iii]

The citric acid (KREB) cycle and enzyme α–KGDH play a role in maintaining optimal levels of the neurotransmitters glutamate, and gamma–aminobutyric acid (GABA).

When thiamine levels decrease, the activity of these enzymes are reduced.[iv]

How things go bad

We depend on our diet for thiamine. Very little thiamine is stored in your body. And depletion can occur within 14 days.

Thiamine deficiency can be caused by alcoholism, Alzheimer’s Disease, anemia, athletes who reduce food intake, cancer, clogged arteries, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, diarrhea, gastric bypass surgery and kidney disease. And even a poor diet.

Several foods are also considered “anti-thiamine factors” (ATF) and contribute to the risk of thiamine deficiency in otherwise healthy people.  Certain plants contain ATF, which react with thiamine to form an oxidized, inactive product.

Consuming large amounts of tea and coffee (including decaffeinated), as well as chewing tea leaves and betel nuts, have been associated with thiamine depletion in humans.[v]

ATF include mycotoxins (molds) that break thiamine down in the blood. If you eat certain raw, fresh-water fish, raw shellfish and ferns you are at a greater risk of thiamine deficiency.[vi] Thiamine is also inactivated by cooking food.

Thiamine is a cofactor of several enzymes including transketolase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase.  Thiamine deficiency decreases cerebral glucose utilization which results in mitochondrial damage.

Scientists have seen through the electron microscope; disintegrating mitochondria, chromatin clumping, and swelling of degenerating neurons. Yikes!

↓ Low thiamine levels can slow creation of ATP

↓ Energy levels drop

↓ Low thiamine levels can cause problems with memory, learning, recall and perception

↓ Acetylcholine levels decline

↓ Blood pressure drops, reflexes decline, and calf muscles get tender

↓ Heart muscles enlarge

↓ Severe thiamine deficiency can result in psychosis

Thiamine supplementation can help nearly every active adult, as well as a student looking to do better in school. By boosting acetylcholine, glutamate and GABA in the brain. Providing increased brain energy by contributing to the synthesis of ATP. And building myelin sheaths that protect our axons needed for brain cell signaling.

Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) Benefits

Thiamine occurs in your body as free thiamine and as various phosphorylated forms: thiamine monophosphate (TMP), thiamine triphosphate (TTP), and thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), which is also known as thiamine diphosphate.

The synthesis of TPP from free thiamine requires magnesium, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and the enzyme thiamine pyrophosphokinase. TPP is required for the metabolism of carbohydrates and branched-chain amino acids.

Thiamine is directly involved in the citric acid (KREB) cycle that provides adenosine triphosphate (ATP) cellular energy created in your mitochondria.

Thiamine also plays a role in maintaining optimal levels of the neurotransmitters glutamate, and gamma–aminobutyric acid (GABA). And contributes to the production of the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) which is essential in making the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

Thiamine will boost cognition, memory and decision-making. And provides very effective anxiolytic (anti-depressant) qualities.

How does Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) feel?

Thiamine is water-soluble, and has been shown to improve glutamate, and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurological transmissions.[vii]

If you are perfectly healthy and don’t have a thiamine deficiency, you’ll likely not feel anything after supplementing with thiamine.

But I’ve come across study after study, and reports on forums, where lab tests showed thiamine and thiamine pyrophosphate within range. And yet people were dealing with “mild thiamine deficiency”. The problem is “mild thiamine deficiency” can turn your world upside down.

If you are hypothyroid or dealing with Hashimoto’s there is a very good chance you would benefit from thiamine supplementation. Same with diabetes, fibromyalgia and inflammatory bowel disease.

Neurohackers report that supplementing with thiamine is an effective mosquito repellent.

Many report thiamine supplementation boosts attention, energy, and motivation. A reduction in brain fog and increased mental clarity with less anxiety.

Those dealing with fibromyalgia and nerve pain report a significant decrease in pain levels.

Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) Clinical Research

Most of the research conducted on Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) has been with people dealing with fatigue or pain associated with fibromyalgia, thyroid disease and other debilitating conditions. And most have very few participants. But the results in every trial I’ve reviewed are profound.

Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) Improves Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

If you’ve ever had to deal with fibromyalgia, you are familiar with the hell of living with chronic pain, fatigue, insomnia and more.

Some studies suggest that many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia could be related to mild thiamine deficiency due to a dysfunction of the active transport of thiamine from blood to the mitochondria.

One very small study conducted in Italy recruited 3 female patients with fibromyalgia. Levels of thiamine and thiamine pyrophosphate in the blood were measured. The patients then received from 600 mg to 1800 mg of thiamine per day. And the results were astounding:

• Patient 1: 3% reduction in fatigue; 80% reduction in pain
• Patient 2: 37% reduction in fatigue; 50% reduction in pain
• Patient 3: 7% reduction in fatigue; 60% reduction in pain

One patient reported improvement at 600 mg of thiamine. Doses for the other 2 patients were increased by 300 mg every 3 days. And experienced improvement in their symptoms at a dose of 1500 mg. None of the patients experienced side effects.[viii]

Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) for Chronic Fatigue

If you deal with chronic fatigue, Thiamine may be a better option than another cup of coffee. Or a stimulant.

Researchers in Italy noted that previous studies on fatigue and related disorders like inflammatory bowel disease improved after therapy with high-dose thiamine.

The team chose 3 stroke patients who also experienced fatigue. Severity of fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale.  Note that lab tests showed free thiamine and thiamine pyrophosphate levels were within the healthy reference range in all the patients.

High-dose thiamine therapy was started. And resulted in a significant decrease in fatigue.

The researchers concluded that post-stroke fatigue and related disorders could be a manifestation of mild thiamine deficiency. Likely due to dysfunction of intracellular transport of thiamine, or other enzyme abnormalities.[ix]

Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Researchers in Italy hypothesized that the chronic fatigue accompanying inflammatory and autoimmune diseases is a clinical manifestation of mild thiamine deficiency.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is both an autoimmune disease and cause of hypothyroidism. In this study, 3 Hashimoto’s patients complaining of chronic fatigue were recruited.

All 3 patients received 600 mg of thiamine per day, or 100 mg of thiamine intravenously (IV) once every 4 days. Thiamine treatment led to partial or complete remission of fatigue within a few hours or days.[x]

Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) recommended Dosage

The recommended dosage of Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) according to the American FDA is 1.2 mg per day. Pregnant and breastfeeding women is a whopping 1.4 mg per day.

Many neurohackers would laugh at these recommendations. “Mild thiamine deficiency” affects a significant segment of the population in any country.

Most clinical studies use thiamine doses from 300 up to 1800 mg per day.

The bottom-line is thiamine dosing is completely up to you. No side effects are reported even at higher doses.

The Mayo Clinic recommends:

• Menstrual cramps – 100 mg per day
• Epilepsy – 50 mg per day
• Alcoholic liver disease and withdrawal – 100 mg injections of thiamine hydrochloride
• Coma or hypothermia – 100 mg injections
• Thiamine deficiency due to nutrition – 100 mg injections
• Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome – 5 – 200 mg injections[xi]

Some natural health clinics offer (expensive) thiamine therapy intravenously (IV) and doses are usually 25 – 50 mg per session.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) Side Effects

Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) is non-toxic. So is considered well-tolerated and safe.

Side effects are rare but very high doses can include stomach upset.

If you are taking Digoxin, diuretics or Dilantin you should consult your doctor before supplementing with thiamine.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) types to buy

Thiamine hydrochloride (HCl): Most Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) supplements available from online retailers and vitamin shops come as Thiamine hydrochloride (HCl). And come in 50 – 500 mg tablets.

Benfotiamine (S-benzoylthiamine O-monophosphate) is a synthetic S-acyl derivative of thiamine. This fat-soluble form of thiamine is much more bioavailable than HCI. Benfotiamine typically comes in 150 – 250 mg capsules. Dosage is up to 900 mg per day.

Tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD) (Fursultiamine): TTFD is a disulfide derivative of thiamine developed in Japan for treating Beriberi. It’s a synthetic form of thiamine naturally occurring in garlic.[xii]

TTFD is a form of thiamine that is water-soluble, and much more difficult to find in vitamin shops. Brand names include Lipothiamine, Allithiamane, Adventan, Alinamin-F, Benlipoid, Bevitol Lipophil, Judolor. TTFD comes in 50 mg capsules. And the primary side effect is you smell like garlic after taking it.

Sulbutiamine: Sulbutiamine is my preferred form of Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) for cognitive enhancement. Sulbutiamine is sold in tablet, capsule and powder form. Tablets and capsules are usually 750 mg each.

Sulbutiamine is a synthetic version of thiamine (two thiamine molecules bound together). It’s sold as a prescription medication in some countries under the brain names Arcalion, Enerion, Bisibuthiamine, and Youvitan.

Multivitamins: Most multivitamins also include some form of Vitamin B₁ in their formula. But many of these multis don’t contain enough for optimum health. And many have an inferior isolated or synthetic version of the nutrient.

The Performance Lab^® NutriGenesis Multi offers a nature-identical form of Vitamin B₁ (thiamine) and is now my favorite daily multivitamin/mineral supplement. You can also get Thiamine in: Performance Lab^® (NutriGenesis^®) B-Complex

I prefer the Performance Lab® multi because it’s more potent, it’s biologically active and I’ve found to be a far more effective multi compared to every other multivitamin supplement I’ve ever used.

Performance Lab^® uses their own priority NutriGenesis^® vitamins and minerals which are grown on probiotic, plant and yeast cultures in a state-of-the-art lab.