Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate)
For the health condition: Anorexia
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
Vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate) supplementation in the context of anorexia is justified primarily by scientific understanding, though the direct evidence base is limited. Thiamine is an essential nutrient that plays a critical role in carbohydrate metabolism and neural function. Individuals with anorexia nervosa, due to chronic undernutrition and reduced dietary intake, are at risk for multiple micronutrient deficiencies, including thiamine deficiency. Thiamine deficiency can result in serious neurological conditions such as Wernicke’s encephalopathy, which has been reported in patients with severe anorexia nervosa (Oudman et al., 2007). While there is a lack of large-scale, randomized controlled trials specifically examining thiamine supplementation as a treatment for anorexia nervosa itself, clinical guidelines for the refeeding of malnourished individuals (including those with anorexia) recommend thiamine supplementation to prevent deficiency-related complications during nutritional rehabilitation (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 2006). Therefore, thiamine is not used to treat the eating disorder directly, but rather to prevent or correct deficiency and its neurological consequences in at-risk individuals. The strength of evidence for preventing deficiency complications is moderate, but there is minimal evidence that thiamine directly improves core anorexia symptoms.
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Other health conditions supported by Vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate)
AlcoholismAnorexia
Cardiovascular Disease
Diabetes
Fatigue
Peripheral Neuropathy