Vitamin B1

What is Vitamin B1?

The first B Vitamin to be discovered, Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is used in pretty much every tissue in the body. It works alongside five key enzymes that are important in energy metabolism.

What does Vitamin B1 do?

Thiamine contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism. Like all B Vitamins, B1 plays an important role in converting the food we eat into energy that we can use throughout the day. The enzymes it works with break down carbohydrates, fats and proteins for use in our body's cells. That energy is used by every cell in the body, which is why researchers have looked at thiamine's role across a range of body systems, including the brain and nervous system.

Thiamine plays a key role in metabolising glucose, which is the main fuel of the nervous system. Thiamine contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system and to normal psychological function. Researchers have also studied forms of thiamine that the body absorbs more easily, and their effects on nerve cells.

Researchers have also looked at thiamine in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

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Why it's in Daily Multivitamin and Women's ProMulti

Thiamine acts as a coenzyme in carbohydrate metabolism, particularly in the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA, a critical step in the Krebs cycle (TCA cycle). Thiamine is also involved in the pentose phosphate pathway, where it supports the production of NADPH and ribose, essential for nucleic acid synthesis. Thiamine helps convert carbohydrates into usable energy, making it critical for women who engage in physical activity or have demanding lifestyles. Thiamine supports neurotransmitter synthesis, helping prevent neurological conditions.

Why it's in Brain Fuel®

Thiamin, also known as Vitamin B1, is essential for energy production in the brain.¹ Thiamin deficiency can lead to impaired cognitive function, including memory loss and confusion.² The vitamin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of neurotransmitters, such as acetylcholine, and is involved in the maintenance of healthy neuronal membranes.³ A meta-analysis found that thiamine supplementation improved cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease.⁴

Why it's in UltraEnergy

Thiamin is essential for converting carbohydrates into energy and plays a key role in the function of the nervous system. It is a cofactor for enzymes involved in the citric acid cycle and the pentose phosphate pathway. Studies have shown that thiamin supplementation may reduce mental fatigue and support focus and performance during cognitively demanding tasks. Thiamin acts as a coenzyme, specifically as thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP), which is required by key enzymes involved in this process. These enzymes include:

• Pyruvate dehydrogenase, which helps convert pyruvate (from glucose) into acetyl-CoA — a molecule that enters the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle or TCA cycle).
• Alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, another enzyme in the citric acid cycle that helps generate ATP (cellular energy).
• Transketolase, an enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway, which supports both energy production and the generation of NADPH — vital for antioxidant defence and biosynthesis.

Without sufficient thiamin, the body’s ability to efficiently generate ATP from glucose is impaired, leading to reduced energy levels, especially in cells with high energy demands like brain and nerve cells.⁵

Why it's in Kid's ProMulti

Thiamine (B1): Essential for nerve conduction via incorporation into the myelin sheath.²

Why it's in Men's ProMulti

Thiamine is essential for carbohydrate metabolism, particularly within the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC). In its active form, thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) acts as a cofactor for the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1), facilitating the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA. This reaction is crucial for energy production as acetyl-CoA enters the citric acid cycle to generate ATP. Thiamine deficiency can impair this pathway, leading to metabolic disturbances.⁶