Abstract:

Introduction:Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, and its crucial role in energy metabolism and proper functioning of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Thiamine is an essential vitamin that must be obtained through diet since the body does not produce it naturally. It is stored in the liver but only lasts for about 18 days. Thiamine is absorbed in the duodenum and transported across the blood-brain barrier. The recommended daily intake varies based on age, health condition, and life stages.Thiamine plays a vital role in various biochemical pathways in the brain, including energy production, lipid metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis, and synaptic transmission. Thiamine deficiency can have diverse clinical effects, affecting the nervous and cardiovascular systems most severely and potentially leading to death if left untreated.Different thiamine deficiency syndromes are identified, including dry beriberi (peripheral neurologic manifestations), wet beriberi (cardiac effects), gastrointestinal beriberi (digestive symptoms), and Wernickes encephalopathy (neuropsychiatric condition). While alcohol abuse-associated malnutrition is a common cause of Wernickes encephalopathy in developed countries, it can also occur due to other factors such as decreased thiamine absorption, increased body requirements, or thiamine loss in certain medical conditions.Thiamine deficiency is considered a potential public health concern, particularly in communities in South Asia and West Africa, where diets heavily reliant on polished rice or cassava may contribute to the risk. Studies have shown varying prevalence rates of thiamine deficiency in different populations, including healthy adults and pregnant/lactating mothers in South-East Asia and India. While specific population-based studies are lacking in the Kashmiri population, preliminary evidence suggests the presence of thiamine deficiency disorders in infants, peripartum females, and adults with diverse presentations.

Keywords: