Nutrient Database

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

vitamin

Approved

General information about nutrients. No diagnosis, no medical advice. If you take medication, are pregnant or have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before taking supplements.

Fasting safeNot before sleep

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Overview

Water-soluble B vitamin. Thiamine contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism. Thiamine contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system.

Interactions

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B1 requires Magnesium

Thiamine pyrophosphate (the active form of B1) requires Mg²⁺ as a cofactor in pyruvate dehydrogenase and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase — key enzymes in energy metabolism.

Top 5 food sources

Porksunflower seedslegumeswhole grainsnutritional yeast

Expert opinions

Dr. Strunz

Strunz calls thiamin (B1) the 'motor vitamin'. Thiamine contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism. He rarely supplements it alone, always as part of a full B-complex, because the eight B vitamins share enzymes and transporters. For high-carbohydrate diets he favors benfotiamine (a fat-soluble thiamin derivative) at 50 to 100 mg, since according to him it reaches nerve tissue better than thiamin HCl. Lab tests: transketolase activity or whole-blood thiamin pyrophosphate.

Recommended dose: 50–100 mg

Source: Dr. Strunz

Expert profiles summarise publicly available statements. The named people do not cooperate with Stackwell and have not authorised these summaries. Not medical advice.

Expert consensus: Strong

Water-soluble with low toxicity risk. Higher doses well tolerated.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) — Stackwell