THIAMINE (VITAMIN B1)

What is thiamine?

Thiamine, also called vitamin B1, belongs to the group of vitamins known as the B vitamins. Like the other B vitamins, thiamine converts food into fuel for our cells. More specifically, thiamine helps break down carbohydrates we eat into energy [^[1]].

What does thiamine do in the body?

Thiamine is essential for nervous system function because it helps brain cells communicate better, both in terms of the insulation needed for brain cells to communicate and the propagation of neural signals itself. Thiamine deficiency can lead to neurological issues such as memory problems, seizures, delirium, and more. Thiamine also has antioxidant properties; the body needs more during a viral illness. Continual dietary supplementation is vital because the body can only store a limited amount of thiamine and has a relatively short half-life [^[2]].

How can thiamine help alleviate certain Long COVID symptoms and/or pathophysiology? 

Research shows that thiamine depletion occurs in critical illness, including acute COVID-19 [^[2]], and that this depletion is associated with an almost 50% increase in mortality [^[1]]. One study found that the lower a patient’s vitamin B1 is, the larger the systemic inflammatory response, which is linked to adverse clinical outcomes in COVID-19 and is a risk factor for developing Long COVID [^[3]].

Beyond thiamine’s role in dampening inflammation in acute illness, Long COVID symptoms resemble those of beriberi, or thiamine deficiency [^[4]]. Many of the symptoms of beriberi involve the nervous system, which can be affected by long COVID. Therefore, sufficient thiamine intake may be essential to treat Long COVID symptoms, and potentially, especially those Long COVID symptoms that affect the nervous system.