New Scientific research suggests that Vitamin B1 defficiency may be factor in diabetic complications.

Researchers at the the University of Warwick have found that high doses of vitamin B1 (thiamine or thiamin), may be able to reduce the risks of damage caused by heart disease, kidney failure and high cholesterol.

The results of the research project, led by Professor Paul J Thornalley of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Warwick, suggest that diabetics should take steps to ensure that they avoid even slight vitamin B1 deficiency as doing so can significantly lower the threat of heart disease and kidney failure.

In an interview with BBC Radio, Professor Thornalley said that their research showed that the kidneys of diabetes sufferers did not reclaim the vitamin B1 in the same way as non-diabetics. In previous research, Professor Thornalley's team have proven that increased doses of vitamin B1 offers theraputic benefits to diabetics already suffereing from kidney damage, but this latest research seems to prove that high doses of thiamine can also help to reverse the increases in lipids and blood cholesterol levels.

Their research found that vitamin B2 present in blood plasma was 76% lower in type 1 diabetics and 75% lower in type 2 diabetics.

Further research will be completed, but the evidence is so compelling and the benefits so significant that the Professor suggests that all diabetics migth want to start taking vitamin B1 supplements immediately.

Vitamin B1 is important to help the body to use carbohydrates as an energy source, which is obviously a concern for diabetics in particular.

Foods high in Vitamin B1 include:
Eggs
Beans
Lentils
Brewers yeast (whoohoo - that means beer, right?)
Brown rice
Green peas
Spinach
Liver
Beef
Pork
Nuts
Bananas
Soybeans
Wholegrain Cereals
Breads
Yeast

There are no known toxic effects from vitamin B1, and any excess is simply excreted from the body.
The Recommended Daily Amount for B1 is 1.5 milligrams, though more typical daily intake ranges from 50 to 500 milligrams per day.

Well, when I was more of a drinker I was a real 'real ale' fan - Camra and everything.

Now if I have more than two pints of Joey Holts I am cabbaged - ah well - guess I'll have to stick to vitamin pills

There is no way on this planet that I am going to eat Maramite - bleaghh!

There is a list of the best sources of Vitamin B1 here:
http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=100

I decided I'd try the B complex vitamins. Not sure if it is coincidence, or I am managing better to avoid the sweet stuff better, but glucose levels are more often between 6 and 7 (well 6.5 and 6.9) instead of 7.1 to 7.9! Now all I have to do is find a substitute for crisps...

Hi there.
Do you know of a good Vitamin B1 supplement I could take? I'm not sure of the amounts to take as research shows that Vit B1 left the body 15 times more than their diabetic counterparts. If the RDA is 1.5 miligrams, maybe I should take 15 times more than that? Sorry is this a stupid question? I guess there's no way (alternative or other?) to stop the excretion of Vit B1?

Thanks if you've any answers
Jazz