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/

---

Finally - The Truth About Calcium Supplements

Undoubtedly calcium has become a hot topic of controversy. We... Read More

Getting In-Zinc

As with most nutrients and minerals, zinc is often ignored... Read More

The Effects of Creatine Supplements on Your Body

The skeletal muscle component known as creatine is not only... Read More

Nutritional Supplement

Nutritional Supplement ? what is it?So what is a nutritional... Read More

Glucosamine Chondroitin & Arthritis - A Health Supplement

Many millions of people are affected by pain and suffering... Read More

Protect Your Body and Slow Down Aging With Antioxidants

The Challenge of Free Radicals to Your BodyYour body is... Read More

Suffering From Osteoarthritis Pain? Natural Relief Is Available

It is clearly evident that hyaluronic acid in its oral... Read More

The Importance of Taking a Calcium Supplement

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body... Read More

Whey Protein Facts

Whey protein is a high quality powder made from cow's... Read More

Know Your Bodybuilding Supplement - L-Taurine

Taurine is the second most abundant amino acid in the... Read More

What Good Is It To Stop Smoking If I Have Smoked For Years?

I often hear people say that they have smoked for... Read More

Supplements and Vitamins - Can They Enhance Your Weight Loss Goals?

Nutritional supplements can play a key role in the health... Read More

Amino Acid Basics ? Why Do We Need Them?

Finding out a little about amino acid basics enables you... Read More

What is HGH?

Hormones are chemical messengers made up of amino acids and... Read More

Omega 3s... Fish Oil, and DHA...

There is no doubt that Omega 3's can not only... Read More

Vitamin B-1

Did you know that vitamin B-1 has two other widely... Read More

Health Benefits of CoQ10 - A Powerful, Important Heart Compound

Coenzyme Q10 (also known as ubiquinone, but most widely referred... Read More

Vitamin B1 and Its Importance to Mental Health

Vitamin B1 also called as thiamine is one of the... Read More

Calcium Reduces Osteoporosis Risk For Women On The Pill

The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and... Read More

Nutritional Supplements: The Amazing Benefits of Vitamin E

The real benefits of Vitamin E may surprise you. First... Read More

Take Back Your Life 3

In parts one and two of this series, titled "Take... Read More

I Love My Glyconutrients

In today's modern world most people, like us, just do... Read More

Know Your Bodybuilding Supplement - Methoxyisoflavone

Flavones are the latest big supplement to hit the market.... Read More

About Liquid Vitamins and Minerals and the New Nutritional Paradigm

Liquid vitamins are the same vitamins that you find in... Read More

Know Your Bodybuilding Supplement - L-Tyrosine

L-tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid that plays a role... Read More

The Secret to a Longer, Healthier, Happy Life is a Strong Immune System!

How can I improve my health and lifestyle beyond diet... Read More

Vitamin C - The Most Common Health Food Supplement

Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid was first isolated from lemons... Read More

Ftiness Supplementation

Fitness Supplement ? what is it?The term "fitness supplement" is... Read More

Why We Do Not Sell Coral Calcium

Since coral calcium is one of he hottest products on... Read More

What Can Muscle Milk Do For Me?

As the name suggests, muscle milk is a supplement that... Read More

Vitamin - Essential Nutrients for Health

Vitamins are the stars of the nutrition scene. Nutrition, the... Read More

Lipovarin Review: How Well Does It Work?

Lipovarin ReviewSince the ban on ephedra based products in April... Read More

Sugar, Vitamin C and Competitive Inhibition

Carboloading of a different variety.Saturday in Tucson before the 1982... Read More