| Benefits: Maintains normal function of nervous
and muscular systems, aids in treatment of herpes zoster, treats
beriberi, keeps mucous membranes healthy.
Good food sources: Meat, wheat germ, oatmeal, cereals, enriched
pastas, fresh peas, beans, oranges.
Cautions: Consult your doctor if you have kidney disease. Don't take mega- doses if pregnant or breast feeding.
Substance interactions: Don't take with the muscles relaxants used in surgery. Notify doctor before undergoing surgery.
Signs of toxicity: May cause drowsiness or rash.
* The best dietary sources are meat and whole-grain cereals. Cook
foods in a minimal amount of water. Avoid high cooking temperatures
and long heat exposure. Avoid carbonates and citrates in beverages
as these decrease thiamine's effect.
* For those with normal kidney function, the excess vitamin will
be excreted in the urine.
* Thiamine aids the brain in its ability to use glucose. Without
glucose, mental function suffers. Thiamine is vital in the production
of neurotransmitters, which are molecules that send transmissions
between the brain and the body. It also maintains the transmission
of electrical impulses in the nerves. Mega-doses may be beneficial
to Alzheimer's patients in slowing memory loss.
* People suffering from Parkinson's disease are usually deficient in the B vitamins,
which includes thiamine, as well as diabetics, the elderly, smokers, and alcoholics.
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