Physicians have warned that a severe deficiency of vitamin B1, also known as thiamin, could lead to declining memory and slow reactions.
Citing a recent example, Chang Shu-yu (張淑鈺), an internist at Changhua Hospital, said a woman surnamed Chen (陳), 60, was taken to hospital by member of her family after she showed signs of slower body movement, declining memory and loss of appetite.
It was found she had hyponatremia, lower-than-normal sodium levels in her blood, caused by vitamin B1 deficiency, causing Wernicke encephalopathy, an acute neurological condition, Chang said.
Photo: Taipei Times file
Chen did not eat a balanced diet, consuming only bread, fermented tofu and bean curd, which caused the vitamin B1 deficiency, Chang said.
During the examination, Chen had difficulty speaking and her eyes looked sunken, while a blood test showed that the sodium level in her blood was lower than normal, which seemed to have affected kidney function, Chang said.
The woman was diagnosed with Wernicke encephalopathy caused by hyponatremia, Chang said.
“When someone has vitamin B1 deficiency, it could harm the body’s ability to convert glucose into energy, which could cause brain dysfunction such as confusion, amnesia, attention issues and fatigue. It could also cause peripheral polyneuritis and affect the digestive system,” she said.
“After finding the cause for her symptoms, the woman received regular injections of vitamin B1,” she added.
“However, some of the damaged brain cells could not be restored, so the woman still reacts slowly and the decline in her motor function remains... So if the family had brought her [to the hospital] for a medical examination later than they did, there could have been more brain damage, which would have made it more difficult for her to recover,” she said.
A balanced diet can prevent vitamin B1 deficiency, dietitian Shih Lu-yun (施璐筠) said, adding that the right diet should include whole grains and cereals, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, fats and oils, along with sources of protein such as meat, fish, eggs, beans and other legumes.
“People should eat less processed food and include whole grains and cereals in their diet along with other food groups. They should make a habit of eating at least five portions of fruits and vegetables every day, so that they do not develop a vitamin B1 deficiency,” Shih said.
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