The importance of thiamine (vitamin B1) in humans.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of biological mechanisms and clinical deficiency states without original empirical data or systematic review methods.
PubMed 37389565 · doi:10.1042/BSR20230374
What was done
This paper reviews the biological functions of thiamine (vitamin B1), its mono-, di-, and triphosphate forms, its antioxidant properties, and the clinical sequelae of deficiency across human metabolic pathways.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data or effect estimates. It summarizes that thiamine acts as a coenzyme in carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism, cellular respiration, mitochondrial energy production, and neurotransmitter synthesis. It notes that deficiency causes mitochondrial dysfunction, lactate and pyruvate accumulation, focal thalamic degeneration (Wernicke's encephalopathy/Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome), heart failure, neuropathy, and delirium, with alcohol abuse identified as the primary risk factor.
Why it matters
It provides a consolidated mechanistic overview of thiamine's role in human cellular bioenergetics and highlights the multisystem clinical risks associated with acute and chronic deficiency.
Limits
As a narrative review, it lacks primary quantitative data, a systematic literature search strategy, formal study selection criteria, and risk-of-bias evaluation.
Cited by
- supports Alcohol consumption can impair thiamine absorption from the digestive tract and inhibit the enzyme that converts thiamine into its active form.