Vitamin B1 Deficiency May Cause Brain Damage

According to a recent study published in the journal Scientific American Medicine, neurologists from Loyola University Medical Center reported that a deficiency of Vitamin B1 (thiamine) can cause a potentially fatal brain disorder called Wernicke encephalopathy. Untreated, the condition can lead to irreversible brain damage and death. Wernicke encephalopathy is found in the wide range of brain diseases (referred to as encephalopathies) that are caused by metabolic disorders and toxic substances. Toxic encephalopathies can be caused by illegal drugs, environmental toxins and reactions to prescription drugs. Thiamine deficiency is among the nutritional deficiencies that can cause brain diseases such as Wernicke encephalopathy. Although the condition is likely underdiagnosed, with clinical studies reporting a 0.13-percent rate or less, autopsy studies show a prevalence of rates as high as 2.8 percent. “Particularly in those who suffer from alcoholism or AIDS, the diagnosis is missed on clinical examination in 75 to 80 percent of cases,” a Loyola neurologist said. To read more about this study, click here.