Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin B1
For the body system: Acetylcholine

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Table of Contents

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, has a scientifically validated role in supporting the acetylcholine system of the body, though its effects are indirect. Thiamine is an essential cofactor for several enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, including pyruvate dehydrogenase, which is necessary for the production of acetyl-CoA. Acetyl-CoA is a critical substrate for the synthesis of acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Thus, thiamine deficiency can impair acetylcholine synthesis by limiting acetyl-CoA availability, potentially resulting in neurological symptoms such as confusion, memory impairment, and neuropathy (as seen in Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and beriberi).

Animal studies and clinical observations in thiamine-deficient patients demonstrate that restoring thiamine improves neurological function and can normalize acetylcholine levels. However, in individuals with adequate thiamine status, supplemental vitamin B1 does not appear to further enhance acetylcholine production or cholinergic neurotransmission. For this reason, while there is a clear scientific rationale for thiamine’s importance in acetylcholine metabolism, routine supplementation is only justified in the context of deficiency. No robust clinical trials show benefit for cognitive enhancement or cholinergic support in healthy, well-nourished individuals.

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