OVERVIEW OF VITAMIN B1 (THIAMINE):

Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) is the biologically active derivative of thiamine.  It aids the body's use of carbohydrates, and is necessary for promoting a healthy nervous system and maintaining a healthy heart.  According to the United States Pharmacopoeia the recommended dietary intake of thiamine for adults is 1.5 mg per day.  The major dietary sources of thiamine are in pork, liver, potatoes, whole grain cereals and breads.  Thiamine is not present in polished rice and other highly purified cereal products. 

Thiamine deficiency occurs most commonly among populations of the world where polished rice is the staple food. The condition is expressed in the classical pathological condition called beriberi. Thiamine deficiencies in the United States are seen most frequently in alcoholics.  An alcohol-related thiamine deficiency, Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, is caused by inadequate intake of thiamine as well as impaired absorption and storage, and is the third most common cause of dementia in the United States. 

Branched-chain ketoaciduria (commonly known as Maple Syrup Urine Disease; abbreviated MSUD) is another ailment that may be caused by thiamine deficiency.  In MSUD, the oxidative decarboxylation of alpha-keto acids derived from, i.e. valine, isoleucine, and leucine, is blocked due to an inadequate supply of the coenzyme thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP).  Clinical symptoms of MSUD include mental and physical retardation.

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