Compendium of the most significant studies with reference to properties, intake, effects.

Tylicki A, Siemieniuk M. Thiamine and its derivatives in the regulation of cell metabolism. Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2011 Jul 6;65:447-69. Polish. doi: 10.5604/17322693.951633. 

Abstract. For over 70 years thiamine (vitamin B1) has aroused the interest of biologists, biochemists and medical doctors because of its multilateral participation in key biochemical and physiological processes. The thiamine molecule is composed of pyrimidine and thiazole rings which are linked by a methylene bridge. It is synthesized by microorganisms, fungi and plants, whereas animals and humans have to obtain it from food. There are several known forms of vitamin B1 inside cells: free thiamine, three phosphate esters (mono-, di-, and triphosphate), and the recently found adenosine thiamine triphosphate. Thiamine has a dual, coenzymatic and non-coenzymatic role. First of all, it is a precursor of thiamin diphosphate, which is a coenzyme for over 20 characterized enzymes which are involved in cell bioenergetic processes leading to the synthesis of ATP. Moreover, these enzymes take part in the biosynthesis of pentose (required for the synthesis of nucleotides), amino acids and other organic compounds of cell metabolism. On the other hand, recent discoveries show the non-coenzymatic role of thiamine derivatives in the process of regulation of gene expression (riboswitches in microorganisms and plants), the stress response, and perhaps so far unknown signal transduction pathways associated with adverse environmental conditions, or transduction of nerve signals with participation of thiamine triphosphate and adenosine thiamine triphosphate. From the clinical point of view thiamine deficiency is related to beri-beri, Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and other pathologies of the nervous system, and it is successfully applied in medical practice. On the other hand, identifying new synthetic analogues of thiamine which could be used as cytostatics, herbicides or agents preventing deficiency of vitamin B1 is currently the major goal of the research. In this paper we present the current state of knowledge of thiamine and its derivatives, indicating the participation of these compounds in the regulation of cell metabolism at both the coenzymatic and non-coenzymatic level.

Rajtek S, Roth-Maier DA, Kirchgessner M. Vitamin B1 content of liver, brain and muscles of pregnant and nonpregnant rats with different vitamin B1 supplies. Arch Tierernahr. 1990 Oct;40(10):901-13. German. doi: 10.1080/17450399009428441. 

Abstract. The purpose of this publication was to examine the effects of a wide variation of dietary vitamin B1 supply (0-12,000 mg vitamin B1 per kg diet) to gravid and non gravid rats on their vitamin B1 content in liver, brain and muscle. The experiment was designed with 176 (2 x 11 x 8) female Sprague-Dawley-rats. Additionally, the organs and tissues were tested as criteria for requirement recommendations. The animals were sacrificed on the 20th day of gravidity of the pregnant rats. Before gravidity the vitamin-B1-contents were 4.7 micrograms/g liver, 2.5 micrograms/g brain and 1.5 micrograms/g muscle. At the end of the experiment the gravid rats had a 19 per cent higher liver content than the non gravids. With a dietary supply of 8-10 ppm vitamin B1 the liver content plateaued until about 120 ppm. Vitamin B1 concentration in brain was about 2 micrograms/g and gravidity was of no effect. Vitamin B1 concentration in muscle was significantly influenced by both factors and saturation was reached at 1.3 and 1.7 micrograms/g muscle. These data showed that the response of the liver to dietary supply was the most sensitive and should therefore be considered in requirements. The requirement for non gravid animals is therefore 4 mg vitamin B1 per kg diet at minimum, gravid animals should be supplied by 7 mg per kg diet.

Paerl RW, Bouget FY, Lozano JC, Vergé V, Schatt P, Allen EE, Palenik B, Azam F. Use of plankton-derived vitamin B1 precursors, especially thiazole-related precursor, by key marine picoeukaryotic phytoplankton. ISME J. 2017 Mar;11(3):753-765. doi: 10.1038/ismej.2016.145. 

Abstract. Several cosmopolitan marine picoeukaryotic phytoplankton are B1 auxotrophs requiring exogenous vitamin B1 or precursor to survive. From genomic evidence, representatives of picoeukaryotic phytoplankton (Ostreococcus and Micromonas spp.) were predicted to use known thiazole and pyrimidine B1 precursors to meet their B1 demands, however, recent culture-based experiments could not confirm this assumption. We hypothesized these phytoplankton strains could grow on precursors alone, but required a thiazole-related precursor other the well-known and extensively tested 4-methyl-5-thiazoleethanol. This hypothesis was tested using bioassays and co-cultures of picoeukaryotic phytoplankton and bacteria. We found that specific B1-synthesizing proteobacteria and phytoplankton are sources of a yet-to-be chemically identified thiazole-related precursor(s) that, along with pyrimidine B1 precursor 4-amino-5-hydroxymethyl-2-methylpyrimidine, can support growth of Ostreococcus spp. (also Micromonas spp.) without B1. We additionally found that the B1-synthesizing plankton do not require contact with picoeukaryotic phytoplankton cells to produce thiazole-related precursor(s). Experiments with wild-type and genetically engineered Ostreococcus lines revealed that the thiazole kinase, ThiM, is required for growth on precursors, and that thiazole-related precursor(s) accumulate to appreciable levels in the euphotic ocean. Overall, our results point to thiazole-related B1 precursors as important micronutrients promoting the survival of abundant phytoplankton influencing surface ocean production and biogeochemical cycling.

Bunik VI. Thiamin-dependent enzymes: new perspectives from the interface between chemistry and biology. FEBS J. 2013 Dec;280(24):6373. doi: 10.1111/febs.12589.

Abstract. Identification and enzymological study of the multitude of thiamin (vitamin B1)-dependent enzymes open new ways to investigate metabolic regulation and disease treatments. The significant contribution of enzymes employing thiamin diphosphate as a coenzyme to solving medical and biotechnological problems is highlighted, together with the currently underestimated role of the enzymes in controlling the levels of the non-coenzyme thiamin derivatives. © 2013 FEBS.

Jankowska M, Lichodziejewska-Niemierko M, Małgorzewicz S, Rutkowski B. Biologically active form of vitamin B1 in human peritoneal effluent. Adv Clin Exp Med. 2017 Dec;26(9):1405-1410. doi: 10.17219/acem/68722. 

Abstract. Background: Supplementation with vitamin B1 protects the peritoneal membrane from inflammatory and oxidative insults and preserves residual kidney function in rat models of peritoneal dialysis (PD). It is assumed that an active form of vitamin B1, thiamin diphosphate (ThDP), is responsible for this protective effect. However, it has never been shown whether ThDP, a compound known not to cross cellular membranes, is actually detectable in human peritoneal effluent. Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the concentration, appearance rate, and daily loss of ThDP in the peritoneal effluent of patients treated with PD....Conclusions: We conclude that ThDP can be found in detectable concentrations in the peritoneal effluent in humans and is transported through the peritoneal membrane in a pattern independent of other small solutes. Our finding opens novel opportunities in further research on the protection of peritoneal membrane in humans.

Imabayashi K. Biochemical analysis of the effect of active vitamin B1, TTFD, on the neurogenic bladder. Hinyokika Kiyo. 1966 Sep;12(9):977-84. 

Abstract. TTFD, thiamin tetrahydro-furfuryl disulfide, on e of the long-acting active vitamin 131, shows a quite characteristic biological action which is called as "Alinamin Effect" This "Alinamin Effect" , which may not be developed by thiamin itself, has widely spreaded sites of its action not only pharmacological but also biochemical. Here, some analysis were made with biochemical viewpoint on the effect of TTFD on neurogenic bladder. It was found that TTFD has some controlling action on the dehydrogen a se systems corresponding the TCA-cycle, and it may develops well accomodated activities of tissue metabolism. Therefore the effect of TTFD on the mitochondrial respiration, concerning the oxidative phosphorylation as well as the electron transportation, was observed. Since the increase of mitochondrial respiration after TTFD supplem e ntation which might not be found after thiamin, could not be prevented by the foregoing addition of pCMB, the sulfhydryl radical of TTFD would not be regarded as an important reaction center for mitochondrial respiration as well as for hydrogen transportation in dehydrogenase reaction. Physico-chemically, TTFD would play a roll of proton acceptor in its molecular construction, while it would become as a high energy phosphate acceptor such as ADP in oxidative phosphorylation, and affect the mitochondrial respiration as well as the tissue metabolism. However, these assumptions have no experimental back-ground yet. After all, TTFD would change some physical properties of neurogenic vesical wall rather normal through its action on the tissue metabolism, and make the function well cooperated.