19 Unmissable Signs You're Running Low on Thiamine

Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is an essential nutrient that plays a critical role in converting food into energy and supporting the function of nearly every cell in the body. Unlike some vitamins that can be stored long-term, thiamine must be regularly consumed through diet or supplements, as the body cannot produce it on its own. When thiamine levels drop too low, a deficiency can develop, leading to a wide range of symptoms that affect the nervous system, heart, muscles, and brain. Thiamine deficiency can occur for many reasons, including chronic alcohol consumption, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, bariatric surgery, and aging. Left untreated, it can lead to serious health complications, including neurological damage and cardiovascular issues. Because thiamine deficiency symptoms often mimic other conditions, it can go unnoticed for a long time. To help you recognize the warning signs, we’ve expanded our list to 19 unmissable symptoms that may indicate you're running low on this essential vitamin.

1. Shortness Of Breath

Thiamine deficiency can cause problems with the heart and making it beat too slow. Putting this kind of stress on the heart can result in shortness of breath and fatigue. Just like many other symptoms of a thiamine deficiency can be caused by various reasons, being short of breath can be indicative of other illnesses. It is important, then, for doctors to evaluate this with other symptoms patients might be having. A thiamine deficiency can also lead to heart failure because the heart is working too hard to pump the blood through the body. When this happens, fluid can accumulate and make it harder to breathe and results in being short of breath. The extra work being forced on the heart can also contribute to other symptoms, like fatigue.

2. Blurry Vision

It is important if a patient experiences blurry vision, and there are other contributing factors, that they have their thiamine levels checked. A severe thiamine deficiency can cause the optic nerve to swell, which can cause problems with the patient's vision, such as blurriness, and can even result in the loss of vision. However, there is a significant chance vision problems will lessen when the thiamine deficiency is corrected. Vision issues such as blurry vision can also be linked to problems in the brain because the thiamine deficiency can affect the nerves and other parts of the brain.