Thiamine helps reduce stress by supporting mitochondrial function and increasing cellular energy production.
One of the first nutrients that is lost when under stress is B1, thiamine.
Why Thiamine Deficiency Is Often Overlooked During Stress
Thiamine is one of the biggest factors to relieve stress, because it primes mitochondrial pumps to create more energy for cellular repair and regeneration.
Thiamine dependent enzymes are depleted during stress which in turn limits energy units called ATP. Thiamine dependent enzymes have regulatory effects on multiple systems. They act on other enzymes, and these enzymes in turn are rate limiting for other enzymes. For example, the enzyme transketolase needed to make glutathione. I call glutathione the holy grail of antioxidants because it protects the interior of cells.
Guess which nutrient deficiency limits transketolase? Exactly THIAMINE. Lack of thiamine creates a lack of oxygen at the cellular level and creates pseudo-hypoxic condition.
What thrives in a hypoxic environment? Bacteria, viruses—even cancer. Stress of any kind depletes thiamine. This includes exposure to chemical toxins, chronic infections, EMF, radiation, biotoxins, and more.
Thiamine Deficiency and Chronic Inflammation
One of the biggest factors to relieve stress is thiamine, because it primes mitochondrial pumps, creating more cellular energy.
All of these stressors contribute to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation—both of which further rob the body of thiamine.
Dietary sources in excess that can deplete thiamine include coffee and tea, consumption of red cabbage, blueberries, red currants, red beets, beans, chickpeas, lentils, seed oils, consumption of raw fish, excess alcohol, medications, especially diuretics.
Symptoms That May Point to Thiamine Deficiency
Thiamine deficiency can result in the following symptoms:
- An enlarged heart or heart failure
- Pulse below 65 or an irregular pulse
- Low blood pressure
- Varicose veins, spider veins, or hemorrhoids
- Slow reflexes
- Anxiety, worry, insecurity, or heightened emotional sensitivity
- Sensitivity to noise or smells
- Trouble with concentration or foggy thinking
- Poor digestion, experiencing gas, bloating, or indigestion
- Muscle twitching or spasms
- Drowsiness after eating
- Sore, achy muscles after little exercise,
- Constantly fatigued
- Wakes up at night to urinate, wakes up at night and can’t get back to sleep
- Experiencing back pain when in one position especially in bed at night
- Headaches that feel like a tight band around the head
- Itchy skin, sensitive to insect bites
- Shortness of breath or low stamina
- Frequent yawning
- Low body temperature
- Weak muscles or a heavy sensation in the body
It’s pretty amazing that the absence of one nutrient can have such a broad range of effects.
There are many forms of Thiamine: Thiamine Hydrochloride and Thiamine Mononitrate, which are both water soluble, benfotiamine, which is fat soluble, and a form called TTFD.
Since thiamine is depleted from chronic stress, maybe it’s time to talk with your wellness clinician/Primary Doctor/ Functional medicine Practitioner to see if you need a thiamine tune up.