Heavy consumption of tannin-containing or food rich in caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline (such as those present in coffee, chocolate, and tea, respectively) can inactivate thiamine, thereby compromising the thiamine status (7, 14, 15).
Heavy coffee consumption can cause a deficiency in B vitamins, and specifically B1, thiamine. This can make us feel fatigued, nervous and achy, and not provide any headache relief.
Caffeine has a mild diuretic effect, which leads to an increase in urination. As a result, water-soluble vitamins, such as B-vitamins and vitamin C can be depleted due to fluid loss. Research also demonstrated that the higher the level of caffeine, the more it interfered with vitamin D absorption.
A diet consisting mainly of white flour, white sugar, and other highly processed carbohydrates can cause thiamin deficiency. At first, people have vague symptoms such as fatigue and irritability, but a severe deficiency (beriberi) can affect the nerves, muscles, heart, and brain.
Alcohol decreases the absorption of dietary thiamine by at least 50 percent and can damage the lining of the intestinal tract, resulting in more malabsorption. Cut out caffeine. Coffee and tea, although less damaging to the intestinal tract, can wreak havoc on thiamine absorption.
The best approach is to eat a variety of thiamine-containing foods or take a multivitamin to prevent a deficiency from occurring. If thiamine deficiency is diagnosed, many of its effects can be reversed with supplementation. In severe cases, high dose supplementation is used under medical supervision.
Thiamine also requires magnesium for absorption from the GI tract [14], activation to its active form (TDP) [15] and for optimal activity of thiamine dependent enzymes within the cell [16, 17].
Chronic alcohol consumption can cause inadequate nutritional thiamine intake, decreased absorption of thiamine from the gastrointestinal tract and impaired ability for cells to use thiamine.
You'll usually take thiamine once a day if you have a mild vitamin B1 deficiency. You can take it with or without food. It's best to avoid alcohol if you are taking thiamine for a vitamin B1 deficiency. Some people may feel sick or have a stomach ache when taking thiamine, but these side effects are usually mild.
Additionally, certain food products such as tea, coffee, raw fish, and shellfish contain thiaminases - enzymes that destroy thiamine.
Furthermore, caffeine interferes with the metabolism of certain B vitamins, including thiamine. However, because caffeine increases stomach acid secretion, it actually boosts the absorption of vitamin B12.
The tannins and caffeine can interfere with the absorption of many vitamins and minerals, especially iron. Caffeine also increases urination, which can decrease the concentration of water-soluble vitamins (B-complex and C). So, wait an hour after your morning brew to take supplements.
While coffee does not directly affect magnesium levels already present in your body, it does, however, affect your body's absorption of magnesium. Some signs of a magnesium deficiency include agitation, anxiety, rapid breathing, muscle tremors or spasms, and irregular heart rhythm.
Another study looking at thiamine supplementation in magnesium deficient animals found that the addition of thiamine results in a significant decrease in blood and bone concentrations of magnesium, which indicates an increased demand for magnesium and depletion of the stored mineral.
Conclusions: Coffee consumption was associated with reduced circulating B-vitamin concentrations. The observed effect profiles indicated that coffee consumption preferentially affected the upper, but not the lower, part of the B-vitamin concentration distributions.
The most common sources of thiamin in the U.S. diet are cereals and bread [8]. Pork is another major source of the vitamin. Dairy products and most fruits contain little thiamin [3].
Exercise appears to decrease nutrient status even further in active individuals with preexisting marginal vitamin intakes or marginal body stores. Thus, active individuals who restrict their energy intake or make poor dietary choices are at greatest risk for poor thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6 status.
Heating, cooking, and processing foods, and boiling them in water, destroy thiamin. As vitamin B1 is water-soluble, it dissolves into cooking water.
When thiamine stores are depleted (which takes about 4 weeks after stopping intake), symptoms start to appear. Dry beriberi occurs when the CNS is involved. This condition is usually due to poor intake. The neurological features include impaired reflexes and symmetrical motor and sensory deficits in the extremities.
A tannin is a chemical that inhibits the absorption of vitamin B1. Some kinds of tea, like green tea, are low in tannins. But, consuming a lot of black teas, like English breakfast tea and many others, can deplete you of vitamin B1 because they're high in tannins.
Thiamine is mostly concentrated in the skeletal muscles. Other organs in which it is found are the brain, heart, liver, and kidneys. The half-life of thiamine is 9-18 days. It is excreted by the kidney.
The current standard of treatment for such patients is to give them thiamine 100 mg intravenously (IV) before administering glucose containing IV fluids and then to continue this dose for several days.
(Beriberi; Vitamin B1 Deficiency)
At first, people have vague symptoms such as fatigue and irritability, but a severe deficiency (beriberi) can affect the nerves, muscles, heart, and brain. The diagnosis is based on symptoms and a favorable response to thiamin supplements.
Thiamine tablets are usually taken once a day. Doses of 25-100 mg are sufficient to prevent mild deficiency. You can take the tablets at whatever time of day you find easiest to remember, either before or after meals.