Symptoms of vitamin B1 deficiency in women

Vitamin B1 is water-soluble. Except for intestinal bacteria that can produce some, the human body cannot produce vitamin B1 itself. It mainly comes from food, and often exists in food together with other B vitamins. It is abundant in grains, nuts, animal offal, eggs and yeast, but less in human milk and breast milk. Grains are mostly stored in the exoderm (bran), so it is most easily lost during processing. Excessive washing can cause damage, and it can also be destroyed when alkali is added during cooking.

Causes of vitamin B1 deficiency:

(1) Insufficient intake: The daily intake requirement for normal adult men is 1.2-1.5 mg, and for women is 1.0-1.1 mg, which is related to energy requirements and is generally not less than 0.5 mg/1000 kcal. Vitamin B1 is abundant in yeast, animal tissue, beans, peanut kernels, wheat and black rice. If cereals are not properly stored or moldy, vitamin B1 may be deficient. Niacin is a water-soluble vitamin and is not heat-resistant under alkaline conditions. Therefore, improper steaming and cooking may cause millet soup and vegetable juice to flow out or be destroyed. In addition, poor appetite, drinking a lot of alcohol, and long-term intravenous nutrition patients can lead to insufficient intake of vitamin B1.

(2) Increased demand: Under physiological conditions, such as the optimal period of development, pregnancy and lactation. People who do strenuous physical work or exercise, or those who follow a high-carbon, low-calorie, low-protein diet, have a higher requirement for vitamin B1. In pathological conditions, such as goiter, prolonged fever, and chronic active hepatitis, the requirement for vitamin B1 is also increased.

(3) Digestion and absorption disorders: Intestinal dysfunction, intestinal tuberculosis, typhoid fever and other diseases can cause digestion and absorption disorders of vitamin B1. Alcoholics, chronic malnutrition and folic acid deficiency may also have digestion and absorption disorders.

(iv) Increased dissolution: Eating some foods containing niacinase, such as sashimi, oysters, shrimps, coffee, tea and other green plants, can decompose vitamins and reduce the level of niacin in the body.

(V) Increased metabolism: When using diuretics, it may cause excessive loss of vitamin B1. In addition, blood analysis, peritoneal dialysis, or diarrhea can also cause vitamin B1 deficiency.

Vitamin B1 is not tested

Diagnosis of Vitamin B1 Deficiency:

Early symptoms of vitamin B1 deficiency include loss of appetite, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, weight loss, etc. As the disease worsens, typical endocrine and central nervous system symptoms (peripheral neuritis) may occur.

1. Central nervous system

Damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems is called dry beriberi. The more typical manifestations caused by vitamin B1 deficiency are increased symmetry sensation, and impairment of movement and reflex functions. The onset usually starts from the distal part of the body, usually in the lower limbs or upper limbs. There will be burning pain or abnormal sensation, which is distributed in a stocking-like manner and gradually spreads to the proximal part of the body. The original sensitive part becomes slower and slower, and even the sensory nerves, temperature sensation and vibration sensation disappear one after another. Accompanied by decreased muscle tone and muscle pain, mainly in the gastrocnemius muscle, and difficulty walking up and down stairs. As a result, the feet and toes become loose, muscles atrophy, and the patient is bedridden. The reflex functions of tendons, knees, etc. are rarely more active in the early stage, but generally decrease or disappear afterwards, and the reflexes of some patients cannot recover after recovery.

Damage to the central nervous system can affect the sympathetic nerves, eye nerves, oculomotor nerves, abducens nerves, auditory nerves, recurrent laryngeal nerves, phrenic nerves, etc. The main manifestation is Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Symptoms include nausea, nystagmus (horizontal more than vertical tremors), eye muscle paralysis, fever, ataxia, mental changes, and even coma. They may also be accompanied by memory loss, decreased learning ability and fabrication disorder.