Active Ingredient Thiamin (thiamine), Vitamin B1

3-((4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl)-5-(2- hydroxyethyl)-4-methylthiazolium chloride.

Source:

medlineplus herbs and supplements: thiamin (thiamine), vitamin b1

Medical Condition	Uses based on scientific evidence	Grade*
acute alcoholic hepatitis	patients with chronic alcoholism or experiencing alcohol withdrawal are at risk of thiamin deficiency and its associated complications and should be administered thiamin.	b
alzheimer's disease	because thiamin deficiency can result in a form of dementia (wernicke-korsakoff syndrome), its relationship to alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia has been investigated. whether thiamin supplementation is of benefit in alzheimer's disease remains controversial. further evidence is necessary before a firm conclusion can be reached.	c
atherosclerosis	patients with diabetes are at risk of developing hardened arteries (called atherosclerosis). this happens when cholesterol and other substances build up and clog the arteries. thiamin has been studied as a way to help widen arteries that are too narrow. regular intake of thiamin might help slow the progression of atherosclerosis. however, additional research is needed.	c
cataract	preliminary evidence suggests that high dietary thiamin intake may be associated with a decreased risk of cataracts. further evidence is necessary before a firm conclusion can be reached.	c
coma	administration of thiamin is often recommended in patients with coma or hypothermia of unknown origin, due to the possible diagnosis of wernicke's encephalopathy.	c
dysmetabolic syndrome x	taking thiamin by mouth helps to temporarily correct some complications of metabolic disorders associated with genetic diseases including subacute necrotizing encephalopathy (sne, leigh's disease), maple syrup urine disease (branched-chain aminoacidopathy), and lactic acidosis associated with pyruvate carboxylase deficiency and hyperalaninemia. long-term management should be under strict medical supervision.	a
fracture of unspecified bone closed	preliminary evidence shows that supplemental thiamin is not beneficial for hip fractures.	d
heart failure	chronic severe thiamin deficiency can cause heart failure (wet beriberi), a condition that merits thiamin supplementation. it is not clear that thiamin supplementation is beneficial in patients with heart failure due to other causes. however, it is reasonable for patients with heart failure to take a daily multivitamin including thiamin, because some of these individuals may be thiamin deficient. diuretics may lower thiamin levels. since diuretics are commonly administered to patients with heart	c
neoplasms	thiamin deficiency has been observed in some cancer patients, possibly due to increased metabolic needs. it is not clear if lowered levels of thiamin in such patients may actually be adaptive (beneficial). currently, it remains unclear if thiamin supplementation plays a role in the management of any particular type(s) of cancer.	c
other and unspecified manifestations of thiamine deficiency	humans are dependent on dietary intake to fulfill their thiamin requirements. because there is very little thiamin stored in the body, depletion can occur as quickly as within 14 days. severe chronic thiamin deficiency can result in potentially serious complications involving the nervous system/brain, muscles, heart, and gastrointestinal system. patients with thiamin deficiency or related conditions should receive supplemental thiamin under medical supervision.	a
other specified complications of pregnancy	vitamin b supplements have been used to treat leg cramps during pregnancy. however, additional studies are needed to determine if it is effective.	c
other specified disorders of carbohydrate transport and metabolism	there is preliminary evidence of clinical improvements in children with pdh following thiamin administration. further evidence is necessary before a firm conclusion can be reached.	c
other specified disorders of liver	thiamin should be added to tpn formulations for patients who are unable to receive thiamin through other sources (such as a multivitamin) for more than seven days.	b
regional enteritis of unspecified site	decreased serum thiamine levels have been reported in patients with crohn's disease. it is not clear if routine thiamin supplementation is beneficial in such patients generally.	c

*Key to grades
A: Strong scientific evidence for this use;
B: Good scientific evidence for this use;
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use;
D: Fair scientific evidence against this use;
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use.