Thiamine (vitamin B1) is a water soluble vitamin
Thiamine pyrophosphate acts as a coenzyme in the catabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids
It is also required for the biosynthesis of acetylcholine and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)
Cereals are the important dietary sources of thiamine
It is present in yeast extract and pork in very high concentrations
It is important for energy production as it is a coenzyme for pyruvate dehydrogenase and alpha ketoglutarate dehydrogenase in citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle / Tricarboxylic acid cycle)
It is a also a coenzyme for transketolase in pentose phosphate pathway (involved in the production of NADPH)
Deficiency of thiamine leads to Beriberi
The major forms of beriberi are:
Wet beriberi (cardiovascular disease)
Dry beriberi (neurological disease)
Infantile beriberi
Alcoholics are prone to develop Wernicke’s encephalopathy due to deficiency of thiamine