Thiamine (B1) plays a key role in the health of the heart, nervous system, muscle tissue, and blood cells, and is essential for metabolizing glucose in the cells to produce energy. Thiamine also aids in converting carbohydrates into fats that the body uses as energy reserves. Research suggests that thiamine is also potentially useful for mental function, and for minimizing nutritional imbalances caused by too much alcohol consumption. Like all B vitamins, thiamine works best when taken as part of a complete B-complex supplement.

Thiamine is found in all plant and animal foods, but is especially available in pork, organ meats, seafood, eggs, milk, pulses (seaweed),and wheat germ, barley, brown rice, and other whole grains. Despite this fact, cases of thiamine deficiency are quite common, due to exposurwe to stress, cigarettes, and regular alcohol consumption. Long-term thiamine deficiency can cause beriberi. Early signs of deficiency include fatigue, muscle weakness, constipation and other gastrointestinal disorders, confusion, depression, and memory loss.