Vitamins
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
Also called: thiamine, thiamin, benfotiamine
A B vitamin that turns food into energy and keeps nerves working.
- Why people take it
- Low levels from heavy drinking, diabetes or after weight-loss surgery; nerve tingling.
- What the evidence says
- Essential for people who are deficient (common with alcohol use). Benfotiamine for diabetic nerve pain has mixed results.
- How it is usually taken
- Tablets of 1.5 to 100 mg a day; benfotiamine 150 to 600 mg in studies. Found in whole grains, pulses, pork and nuts.
- Be careful
- Very safe at normal doses. Heavy drinkers need medical care, not just a supplement.
- Medicines it can interact with
- Long-term furosemide and heavy alcohol use lower thiamine levels.
Other vitamins
Common questions
What is Vitamin B1?
A B vitamin that turns food into energy and keeps nerves working.
Why do people take Vitamin B1?
Low levels from heavy drinking, diabetes or after weight-loss surgery; nerve tingling.
Does Vitamin B1 work?
Essential for people who are deficient (common with alcohol use). Benfotiamine for diabetic nerve pain has mixed results.
How much Vitamin B1 do people take?
Tablets of 1.5 to 100 mg a day; benfotiamine 150 to 600 mg in studies. Found in whole grains, pulses, pork and nuts.
Is Vitamin B1 safe?
Very safe at normal doses. Heavy drinkers need medical care, not just a supplement.
Does Vitamin B1 interact with medicines?
Long-term furosemide and heavy alcohol use lower thiamine levels.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed 31 October 2026. Written by Satya Babu.
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