Thiamine & Your Brain (Vitamin B1)

Did you know that getting enough Thiamine in your diet (or through a nootropic) may help protect all three brains (head, heart, and gut) as well as the rest of your Central Nervous System (CNS) that connects your brain system?*

Indeed. Thiamine is a crucial nutrient involved in energy metabolism and cellular function. It's important not just for overall health and well-being, but also as one of the essential neuro-nutrients for supporting cognitive health.*

Unfortunately, your body can't produce Thiamine on its own. And while many consume enough Thiamine through their diet, some may still be at risk of deficiency (particularly people with alcohol dependence, seniors, and those with certain health challenges).*

First things first: What is Thiamine?

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine or Thiamin) is a water-soluble vitamin and one of eight B vitamins. It's also No. 1. In another sense, researchers discovered this B-complex vitamin first—hence its B1 name.

Most may be more familiar with another B vitamin, Folate (Vitamin B9), which is well known with pregnancy. However, Thiamine (as mentioned above) can be equally important for keeping your brain, heart, gut, and the rest of your body healthy.*

It's also an essential part of the Krebs Cycle (a biochemical process that breaks down nutrients like glucose to release energy).^1,2

Now, here's the science behind it.

Talking some science is really the best way to understand why we opted for Thiamine in our HCF® advanced nootropics, right?

Let's start with glucose, a 'simple' sugar. Simple, yet a good source of energy for your head-brain. Glucose can 'fuel' neurons and allow them to communicate and perform their functions more effectively.

But what’s really interesting is what happens when this sugar meets Thiamine. Energy is born. Plus, Thiamine may further accelerate this process, supporting other enzymes along the way.*³

Mainly, Thiamine can act as a cofactor in an enzyme complex called 'pyruvate dehydrogenase,' responsible for converting pyruvate (a product of glucose breakdown) into acetyl-CoA (a molecule that plays a role in energy production).*

(!) It's why maintaining sufficient Thiamine levels is essential for the normal conversion processes in the body.*⁴

But the potential benefits of Thiamine for your brain system don't stop there. Have you heard how the head-brain can be damaged by oxidative stress? Are you aware of how susceptible it is to oxidative damage?*

Here's another interesting fact: ongoing research explores Thiamine's role in helping shield the brain in protecting your precious neurons.*⁵ 

Building the 'brain's insulation.'*

According to research, Thiamine may also play a role in myelin production. What is myelin? It's a protective sheath around our nerve fibers, helping its development and function. Without it, the electrical signals in our brains can go haywire.*

Last but not least, Thiamine may be involved in the production of neurotransmitters—chemical messengers that transmit signals in the head-brain. It synthesizes Glutamate and GABA (two neurotransmitters that can help regulate multiple brain functions, from cognition and memory to mood and sleep).*⁶

But what happens when Thiamine is lacking? Deficiency.

Seniors are typically more vulnerable to Thiamine deficiencies. But there can be other groups, too. For example, the ever-growing number of people who avoid carbs (such as bread and pasta) due to gluten intolerance.*

And since these food products can be an important source of Thiamine, it's unsurprising that many gluten-intolerant people may also be deficient.*

(!) Those who follow the Paleo diet also steer clear of many Thiamine whole-foods, which might put them at risk of Thiamine deficiency.*

Fortifying gluten-free alternatives with Thiamine and other nutrients could be an obvious solution. Unfortunately, this is not a common practice in the food industry.*

Thiamine deficiency may lead to memory problems, difficulty concentrating, brain fog, emotional ups and downs, and mood changes.*

A balanced diet is preferred, but what can you do when it's not possible?

As part of a balanced approach to health, you may also want to consider our HCF® advanced nootropics. Our nootropics can be a solid contribution for those who find it challenging to meet their daily Thiamine needs through diet alone or are at risk of deficiency due to specific dietary patterns or health challenges.*