GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Found in yellow fruit, green and leafy vegetables,
carrots, yams, cantaloupe, organ meats (especially liver), pork, dried beans, peas, soybeans, wheat germ, brewer’s or nutritional yeast,
egg yolks, poultry, fish and seafood, dried yeast, brown
rice, rice husks or rice bran, whole grain products,
oatmeal, nuts, most vegetables, milk, raisins and
prunes.
ROLE IN ANTI-AGING:
Known as the “morale” vitamin, vitamin B1
converts carbohydrates (sugar) into energy, promotes growth, aids digestion, and is
essential for nerve tissues, muscle, and
heart. It also plays a vital role in
the functioning of some important enzymes and is essential
for the transmission of certain nerve
signals between the brain and the spinal
cord. Vitamin B1 helps repel
insects and mosquitoes and is used in the
treatment of alcoholics and drug
addicts.
DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS:
Vitamin B1 deficiency causes the condition
beri-beri which includes mental illness, paralysis of some eye muscles, foot drop, and
decreased sensation in the feet and legs. Other symptoms of
deficiency include: loss of appetite; fatigue; weakness;
neuritis; muscle atrophy; head pressures; poor sleep;
feeling tense and irritable; aches and pains; subjectively
poor memory, difficulty concentrating; constipation; impaired growth; “pins and needles”
sensation in the toes and “burning” sensation in the feet.
Alcohol consumption interferes with absorption of
B1.
THERAPEUTIC DAILY AMOUNT:
1.4 -100mg. RDA is 1.4mg; pregnant or lactating
women should increase the RDA by 0.4mg.
MAXIMUM SAFE LEVEL:
100mg (long and short term &emdash; no adverse effects have been reported)
SIDE EFFECTS/CONTRAINDICATIONS:
No side effects are associated with the normal
use of supplementary vitamin B1. Pregnant women should consult their physician before
taking vitamin B1.
SOLUBILITY:
soluble
