Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (721 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of thiamine in the diet, characterized by anorexia, irritability, and weight loss. Later, patients experience weakness, peripheral neuropathy, headache, and tachycardia. In addition to being caused by a poor diet, thiamine deficiency in the United States most commonly occurs as a result of alcoholism, since ethanol interferes with thiamine absorption. In countries relying on polished rice as a dietary staple, beriberi prevalence is very high. (From Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 19th ed, p1171)
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Deficiency, Thiamine; Deficiencies, Thiamine; Thiamine Deficiencies.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
Related concepts
- Thiamine
- Beriberi
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 5,305 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Thiamine Deficiency” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 527 of them (9.9%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 3,172 records.
Reviews account for 582 records (11.0%) and meta-analyses for 7. Randomized controlled trials number 26 (0.5%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 3,172 |
| 2000-2009 | 697 |
| 2010-2019 | 909 |
| 2020 onward | 527 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 582 | 11.0% |
| Meta-analyses | 7 | 0.1% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 26 | 0.5% |
Method: PubMed query "Thiamine Deficiency"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in metabolism and endocrine disease
Studies of diabetes, obesity and hormone disorders often follow blood tests such as glucose, HbA1c or hormone levels, which are stand-ins for outcomes that matter more, such as complications. Lifestyle and diet research is largely observational, and weight and diabetes trials can differ in how long people were followed. Nothing on this page is advice about medicines, insulin or diet; talk to a qualified clinician about your own situation. Check whether the outcome was a lab value or a clinical event, and the type and duration of the condition studied.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thiamine deficiency disorders: a clinical perspective | 2021 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 153 | cc by PMID 33305487 · DOI · PMC8451766 |
| Alcohol's Effects on the Brain: Neuroimaging Results in Humans and Animal Models | 2017 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 145 | cc0 PMID 28988573 · PMC5513685 |
| The importance of thiamine (vitamin B1) in humans | 2023 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 138 | cc by PMID 37389565 · DOI · PMC10568373 |
| B Vitamin Deficiencies and Associated Neuropathies | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 8 | cc by PMID 41609902 · DOI · PMC12855320 |
Thiamine deficiency disorders: a clinical perspective [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Thiamine is an essential water-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in energy metabolism.
- Closing excerpt
- With concerted effort, the morbidity and mortality related to thiamine deficiency can be reduced.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (193 words)
Thiamine is an essential water-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in energy metabolism. Thiamine deficiency presents many challenges to clinicians, in part due to the broad clinical spectrum, referred to as thiamine deficiency disorders (TDDs), affecting the metabolic, neurologic, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems. Concurrent illnesses and overlapping signs and symptoms with other disorders can further complicate this. As such, TDDs are frequently misdiagnosed and treatment opportunities missed, with fatal consequences or permanent neurologic sequelae. In the absence of specific diagnostic tests, a low threshold of clinical suspicion and early therapeutic thiamine is currently the best approach. Even in severe cases, rapid clinical improvement can occur within hours or days, with neurological involvement possibly requiring higher doses and a longer recovery time. Active research aims to help better identify patients with thiamine-responsive disorders and future research is needed to determine effective dosing regimens for the various clinical presentations of TDDs. Understanding the clinical diagnosis and global burden of thiamine deficiency will help to implement national surveillance and population-level prevention programs, with education to sensitize clinicians to TDDs. With concerted effort, the morbidity and mortality related to thiamine deficiency can be reduced.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 33305487 · DOI · PMC8451766
Alcohol's Effects on the Brain: Neuroimaging Results in Humans and Animal Models [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Brain imaging technology has allowed researchers to conduct rigorous studies of the dynamic course of alcoholism through periods of drinking, sobriety, and relapse and to gain insights into the effects of chronic alcoholism on the human brain.
- Closing excerpt
- This report also suggests that the dynamic course of alcoholism presents a unique opportunity to examine brain structural and functional repair and recovery.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (194 words)
Brain imaging technology has allowed researchers to conduct rigorous studies of the dynamic course of alcoholism through periods of drinking, sobriety, and relapse and to gain insights into the effects of chronic alcoholism on the human brain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have distinguished alcohol-related brain effects that are permanent from those that are reversible with abstinence. In support of postmortem neuropathological studies showing degeneration of white matter, MRI studies have shown a specific vulnerability of white matter to chronic alcohol exposure. Such studies have demonstrated white-matter volume deficits as well as damage to selective gray-matter structures. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), by permitting microstructural characterization of white matter, has extended MRI findings in alcoholics. MR spectroscopy (MRS) allows quantification of several metabolites that shed light on brain biochemical alterations caused by alcoholism. This article focuses on MRI, DTI, and MRS findings in neurological disorders that commonly co-occur with alcoholism, including Wernicke's encephalopathy, Korsakoff's syndrome, and hepatic encephalopathy. Also reviewed are neuroimaging findings in animal models of alcoholism and related neurological disorders. This report also suggests that the dynamic course of alcoholism presents a unique opportunity to examine brain structural and functional repair and recovery.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc0 licence; © the authors. PMID 28988573 · PMC5513685
The importance of thiamine (vitamin B1) in humans [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Thiamine (thiamin, B1) is a vitamin necessary for proper cell function.
- Closing excerpt
- This paper presents current knowledge of the biological functions of thiamine, its antioxidant properties, and the effects of its deficiency in the body.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (191 words)
Thiamine (thiamin, B1) is a vitamin necessary for proper cell function. It exists in a free form as a thiamine, or as a mono-, di- or triphosphate. Thiamine plays a special role in the body as a coenzyme necessary for the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. In addition, it participates in the cellular respiration and oxidation of fatty acids: in malnourished people, high doses of glucose result in acute thiamine deficiency. It also participates in energy production in the mitochondria and protein synthesis. In addition, it is also needed to ensure the proper functioning of the central and peripheral nervous system, where it is involved in neurotransmitter synthesis. Its deficiency leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, lactate and pyruvate accumulation, and consequently to focal thalamic degeneration, manifested as Wernicke's encephalopathy or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. It can also lead to severe or even fatal neurologic and cardiovascular complications, including heart failure, neuropathy leading to ataxia and paralysis, confusion, or delirium. The most common risk factor for thiamine deficiency is alcohol abuse. This paper presents current knowledge of the biological functions of thiamine, its antioxidant properties, and the effects of its deficiency in the body.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 37389565 · DOI · PMC10568373
B Vitamin Deficiencies and Associated Neuropathies [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Purpose of reviewThis review examines both historical and recent evidence to clarify the current understanding of the relationship between B vitamin deficiencies and neuropathies.
- Closing excerpt
- In developed countries, factors like alcohol consumption, bariatric surgery, and metformin use are increasing these deficiencies in clinical practice.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (143 words)
Purpose of reviewThis review examines both historical and recent evidence to clarify the current understanding of the relationship between B vitamin deficiencies and neuropathies.Recent findingsVitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency can lead to neurological disorders such as beriberi and Wernicke's encephalopathy, conditions with significant prevalence and mortality rates. Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) is crucial for DNA synthesis, fatty acid metabolism, and myelin production, with its deficiency leading to neuropathies and cognitive disorders. Excess vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), rather than deficiency, appears to be associated with neuropathy.Takeaways/conclusionsVitamin B1 and B12 deficiencies are linked to classic neuropathies, while the connection between vitamin B6 deficiency and neuropathy is less clear, though excess B6 is associated with neurotoxicity. Nutritional deficiencies are less common in developed countries but remain significant in developing nations. In developed countries, factors like alcohol consumption, bariatric surgery, and metformin use are increasing these deficiencies in clinical practice.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41609902 · DOI · PMC12855320
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Wernicke's encephalopathy: new clinical settings and recent advances in diagnosis and management [5]
- Research article EFNS guidelines for diagnosis, therapy and prevention of Wernicke encephalopathy [6]
- Research article The Royal College of Physicians report on alcohol: guidelines for managing Wernicke's encephalopathy in the accident and Emergency Department [7]
- Research article Molecular mechanisms of thiamine utilization [8]
- Research article The role of thiamine deficiency in alcoholic brain disease [9]
- Research article Neuroimaging findings in acute Wernicke's encephalopathy: review of the literature [10]
References
- Smith TJ, Johnson CR, Koshy R, Hess SY, Qureshi UA, Mynak ML, et al.. Thiamine deficiency disorders: a clinical perspective. . 2021. PMID 33305487 · DOI · PMC8451766
- Zahr NM, Pfefferbaum A. Alcohol's Effects on the Brain: Neuroimaging Results in Humans and Animal Models. . 2017. PMID 28988573 · PMC5513685
- Mrowicka M, Mrowicki J, Dragan G, Majsterek I. The importance of thiamine (vitamin B1) in humans. . 2023. PMID 37389565 · DOI · PMC10568373
- Alvarez M, Poveda S, Cisneros A, Parra D, Luna M, Rincón O, et al.. B Vitamin Deficiencies and Associated Neuropathies. . 2026. PMID 41609902 · DOI · PMC12855320
- Sechi G, Serra A. Wernicke's encephalopathy: new clinical settings and recent advances in diagnosis and management. Lancet Neurol. 2007. PMID 17434099 · DOI
- Galvin R, Bråthen G, Ivashynka A, Hillbom M, Tanasescu R, Leone MA, et al.. EFNS guidelines for diagnosis, therapy and prevention of Wernicke encephalopathy. Eur J Neurol. 2010. PMID 20642790 · DOI
- Thomson AD, Cook CC, Touquet R, Henry JA, Royal College of Physicians, London. The Royal College of Physicians report on alcohol: guidelines for managing Wernicke's encephalopathy in the accident and Emergency Department. Alcohol Alcohol. 2002. PMID 12414541 · DOI
- Singleton CK, Martin PR. Molecular mechanisms of thiamine utilization. Curr Mol Med. 2001. PMID 11899071 · DOI
- Martin PR, Singleton CK, Hiller-Sturmhöfel S. The role of thiamine deficiency in alcoholic brain disease. Alcohol Res Health. 2003. PMID 15303623 · PMC6668887
- Zuccoli G, Pipitone N. Neuroimaging findings in acute Wernicke's encephalopathy: review of the literature. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2009. PMID 19155417 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.