Thiamine Vitamin B1 Deficiency Beri Beri RAMPANT in US 70 Symptoms Often Misdiagnosed
Hidden epidemic in USA. Almost 3/4 Americans are Thiamine / B1 deficient.
Sue Becker talks about beriberi and pellegra becoming epidemic in the US after people quit grinding their own flour.
Beri-beri is a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine). It affects the nervous system, muscles, and heart, and can be fatal if left untreated.
Types of Beri-beri
- Dry Beri-beri
- Affects the nervous system (peripheral neuropathy).
- Symptoms:
- Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet.
- Muscle weakness and difficulty walking.
- Loss of reflexes and coordination.
- Severe cases can lead to paralysis.
- Wet Beri-beri
- Affects the cardiovascular system.
- Symptoms:
- Swelling (edema) in the legs.
- Shortness of breath.
- Rapid heart rate.
- Congestive heart failure in severe cases.
- Infantile Beri-beri
- Occurs in breastfed infants of mothers with thiamine deficiency.
- Symptoms:
- Restlessness, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.
- Heart failure if untreated.
- Cerebral Beri-beri (Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome)
- Often seen in chronic alcoholics due to poor nutrition.
- Symptoms:
- Confusion, memory loss, and hallucinations.
- Eye movement abnormalities.
- Poor muscle coordination (ataxia).
Causes of Beri-beri
- Inadequate intake of thiamine-rich foods (e.g., rice-based diets, alcohol dependence, malnutrition).
- Increased thiamine demand (e.g., pregnancy, hyperthyroidism, infections).
- Malabsorption disorders (e.g., chronic diarrhea, gastrointestinal diseases).
Treatment & Prevention
- Treatment:
- Thiamine supplements (oral or injection).
- Supportive care for heart or nerve damage.
- Prevention:
- Eating thiamine-rich foods like whole grains, meat, fish, legumes, and nuts.
- Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption.
- Ensuring proper nutrition, especially during pregnancy and infancy.
Beri-beri is reversible if treated early, but severe cases can lead to permanent nerve damage or death.
