Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Deficiency causes severe disease (beriberi, Wernicke's). Supplementation is critical in at-risk populations. Benefits beyond deficiency correction are limited.

A rough internal score reflecting quantity, quality, and consistency of human evidence. Not a clinical recommendation.

Essential for carbohydrate metabolism. Deficiency is common in alcoholism, bariatric surgery patients, and some diabetics. High-dose thiamine (benfotiamine) studied for diabetic neuropathy and nephropathy with mixed results.

• Essential for glucose and energy metabolism
• Critical for nervous system function
• Prevents and treats beriberi and Wernicke-Korsakoff

RDA is 1.1–1.2 mg. Therapeutic doses 50–300 mg. Benfotiamine 150–600 mg for neuropathy.

• Essentially non-toxic orally
• Rare allergic reactions with IV administration

Very safe even at high doses (water-soluble). IV thiamine can rarely cause anaphylaxis. No known oral toxicity.

Benfotiamine (fat-soluble derivative) has better tissue penetration for neuropathy applications. Standard thiamine is adequate for basic needs.

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