Vitamin B₁ or Thiamine is synthesised by plants, bacteria, fungi and multicellular living organisms. The human body cannot synthesise this vitamin and must take it from food, but Thiamine is involved in many important bodily functions, including the metabolism of carbohydrates to produce energy and the functioning of the nervous system.

Industrially it appears in the form of a white powder, is soluble in water and is characterised by a sharp odour.

It is found in bran, cereal products, potatoes, rice and vegetables.

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics

Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it allows perfume to be enhanced, masked or added to the final product, improving its commercial viability.  The consumer always expects to find a pleasant scent in a cosmetic product.

Skin conditioning agent - Miscellaneous.  This ingredient has the task of modifying the condition of the skin when it is damaged or dry by reducing its flakiness and restoring its elasticity.

Medical

Thiamine  has the function of burning sugar. Those who use sugar and alcohol excessively suffer from a deficiency of this vitamin (1). Many studies have focused on the possibility of its metabolic benefits on diabetes mellitus (2). It is used to treat a disease of the nerve endings called Beri Beri. Research has suggested that thiamine may help prevent cataracts and may play a role in maintaining retina health. However, further research is needed to confirm these effects and to better understand how thiamine impacts eye health.

Energy metabolism. Thiamine plays a key role in the body's energy metabolism, helping to convert carbohydrates into energy. This is particularly important for the functioning of the brain and nervous system, which require a lot of energy.

Nervous system function. Thiamine is essential for the production of neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that transmit signals in the brain. This makes it important for maintaining cognitive function and nervous system health.

Prevention and treatment of thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is used to prevent and treat thiamine deficiency, which can lead to conditions such as beriberi and Wernicke's encephalopathy. These conditions can cause a range of symptoms, including difficulty moving, mental confusion, and heart failure.

Potential brain health benefits. Some research suggests that thiamine can help improve cognitive function in people with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. However, further research is needed in this area.

Heart health. Thiamine can help maintain heart health, contributing to the proper functioning of the heart muscle.

The most relevant studies on this vitamin have been selected with a summary of their contents:

Vitamin B1 studies

• Molecular Formula: C₁₂H₁₇N₄OS+
• Empirical Formula (Hill Notation): C₁₂H₁₇ClN₄OS · HCl
• Molecular Weight: 265.355 g/mol
• CAS: 70-16-6  59-43-8   67-03-8
• EC Number: 200-425-3
• UNII: 4ABT0J945J
• PubChem Substance ID 24871525
• MDL number: MFCD00012780
• Beilstein Registry Number: 3851771

Synonyms:

• vitamin B1
• thiamin
• Thiamine mononitrate
• Vitamin B1 hydrochloride
• Aneurine hydrochloride
• 3-[(4-amino-2-methylpyrimidin-5-yl)methyl]-5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyl-1,3-thiazol-3-ium
• Thiamine monohydrochloride
• Vitamin B1 hydrochloride (VAN)
• Thiamine, chloride, hydrochloride
• 2-[3-[(4-amino-2-methyl-pyrimidin-5-yl)methyl]-4-methyl-thiazol-3-ium-5-yl]ethanol
• Thiamin hydrochloride

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Sutherland GT, Sheedy D, Kril JJ. Neuropathology of alcoholism. Handb Clin Neurol. 2014;125:603-15. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-62619-6.00035-5.

(2) Al-Attas O, Al-Daghri N, Alokail M, Abd-Alrahman S, Vinodson B, Sabico S. Metabolic Benefits of Six-month Thiamine Supplementation in Patients With and Without Diabetes Mellitus Type 2.
Clin Med Insights Endocrinol Diabetes. 2014 Jan 23;7:1-6. doi: 10.4137/CMED.S13573. eCollection 2014.

Other studies

Nacitarhan C, Minareci E, Sadan G. The effect of benfotiamine on mu-opioid receptor mediated antinociception in experimental diabetes.   Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2014 Mar;122(3):173-8. doi: 10.1055/s-0033-1363977. 

Alaei Shahmiri F, Soares MJ, Zhao Y, Sherriff J.  High-dose thiamine supplementation improves glucose tolerance in hyperglycemic individuals: a randomized, double-blind cross-over trial.
 Eur J Nutr. 2013 Oct;52(7):1821-4. doi: 10.1007/s00394-013-0534-6.