Vitamin B1 > Sources & Forms

Nutritional Supplement

Vitamin B1

Where to Find It

Wheat germ, whole wheat, peas, beans, enriched flour, fish, peanuts, and meat are all good sources of vitamin B1.

Best Form to Take

There is no clear evidence to suggest that either thiamine hydrochloride or thiamine nitrate—the two most commonly used supplement forms of thiamine—is preferable to the other. However, lipid-soluble derivatives of thiamine, such as thiamine propyl disulfide, thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide, and benfotiamine, are reported to be more bioavailable than water-soluble thiamine, and have been used to treat diabetic neuropathy, myalgia, and some other conditions.1

How to Use It

While the ideal intake is uncertain, one study reported the healthiest people consumed more than 9 mg per day.2 The amount found in many multivitamin supplements (20–25 mg) is more than adequate for most people.

Vitamin B1 is nontoxic, even in very high amounts.

References

1. Gaby, AR. Nutritional Medicine. Concord, NH: Fritz Perlberg Publishing, 2011.

2. Cheraskin E, Ringsdorf WM, Medford FH, Hicks BS. The “ideal” daily vitamin B1 intake. J Oral Med 1978; 33:77-9.

3. Wilkinson TJ, Hanger HC, George PM, Sainsbury R. Is thiamine deficiency in elderly people related to age or co-morbidity? Age Ageing 2000;29:111-6.

4. Shamir R, Dagan O, Abramovitch D, et al. Thiamine deficiency in children with congenital heart disease before and after corrective surgery. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 2000;24:154-8.

5. Heap LC, Peters TJ, Wessely S. Vitamin B status in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. J R Soc Med 1999;92:183-5.

6. Grant JE, Veldee MS, Buchwald D. Analysis of dietary intake and selected nutrient concentrations in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. J Am Diet Assoc 1996;96:383-6.

7. Hung SC, Hung SH, Tarng DC, et al. Thiamine deficiency and unexplained encephalopathy in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients. Am J Kidney Dis 2001;38:941-7.