vitamin B1

Thiamine (vitamin B1) is used as a dietary supplement when the amount of thiamine in the diet is not enough. People most at risk for thiamine deficiency are older adults, those who are dependent on alcohol, or who have HIV/AIDS, diabetes, malabsorption syndrome (problems absorbing food), or have had bariatric surgery (an operation that helps you lose weight by making changes to your digestive system). Thiamine is used to treat beriberi (tingling and numbness in feet and hands, muscle loss, and poor reflexes caused by a lack of thiamine in the diet) and to treat and prevent Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (tingling and numbness in hands and feet, memory loss, confusion caused by a lack of thiamine in the diet). Thiamine is in a class of medications called vitamins. It is needed by the body to turn foods into energy, which is important for the growth, development, and function of cells.