Can B1 (Thiamine) improve B12 d as a co-factor (along with folate?)

[Pickle500]

Hi everyone

I've been reading about the benefits of mega-dosing on B1 (Thiamine or Benfotiamine as a synthetic and more absorbed version). And I wondered if supplementing with high-dose B1 could accelerate B12d healing, particularly for any neurological issues or lingering nerve pain.

B12, B9, B6 and B1 are needed as co-factors, and many naturopaths suggest B1 mega-doses can improve fibromyalgia, for example. It is my beliefe that fibro is a consquence of diet and mostly vegetarian diets. But I'm happy to be proven wrong/for you to express a different opinion.

And if B1 works for neve damage from fibro, it could work for nerve damage from lack of b12, which could be linked.

I think there was one person on the forum who suggested B1 injections helped them with B12. But does anyone supplement with high doses of B1 (Thiamin or Benfotiamine)?

Would there be any risks to high doses and potential interactions with other vitamins?

Many thanks

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Thanks for posting...I've wondered for a long time whether I would benefit from taking a thiamin supplement so look forward to the conversation.

NHS links that mention Thiamine

nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-...

nhs.uk/medicines/thiamine-v...

[Narwhal10]

Hi Pickle500,

I did take thiamine 1000 mg (oral - tablet form) from 14 January 2021 until about maybe 4 months ago.

So like vitamin B12 it is non toxic and water soluble. There’s a particular functional practitioner, British, on YouTube that recommends it for fibromyalgia. On the basis of Derrick Lonsdale M.D. and Chandler Mars’ book on Thiamine Deficiency Disease, Dysautonomia and High Calorie Malnutrition. (I bought a copy).

Dysautonomia includes Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) but lots of other symptoms as well.

The interactions I am aware of are magnesium and B1 work together. The book, a private dietician and I tried to learn dietetics from a very quirky, sarcastic doctor on YouTube. I still take magnesium threonate and a B complex now.

There have been a study where 50 people with Parkinson’s disease responded very well to high doses of thiamine (given I.M.) Plus, another where only 5 cases were studied. They could smile (this brings tears to my eyes as their muscles would not allow), they started walking normally without shuffling and freezing of gait. But research in this area may be due to lack of funding.

I’m a coeliac, SIBO SIAO (small intestinal bacteria/archea overgrowth.) I found the flow chart for SIBO on Healthunlocked and thiamine deficiency is part of it. Found the document months after I started supplementing. Phew

The actual intricacies of how the cofactors work together and metabolic pathways is pretty technical. I was desperate to be well so opted for it.

[Thalia56]

I can’t answer your question about the B1 / B12 link, which is an interesting thought, but I’ve had chronic fatigue for years and high-dose thiamin (600mg per day) gives me energy. I’ve stopped it for the moment as I’m trying to sort out my thyroid treatment and don’t want too many variables going on at the same time, but i find it works within two days of starting and I’m not aware of any side-effects.

[Pickle500]

Thanks for your feedback all.

Found that Procter and Gamble are now promoting a B mix for nerve regeneration. So hopefully the world is (very slowly) catching on to the need for B vitamins (i.e. food or synthetic food elements) and not ineffective and damaging drugs.

neurobion.com/en_PH/home/pr...

[Pickle500]

Plus - I found this research that suggests B12, B6 and B9 are powerful for nerve regeneration.

hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2...

The only warning is too much B6, and I believe this should be no more than 200 per day. If it's more and taken over an extended period of time, it can lead to nerve damage. And will make matters worse!

I am taking high dose B12 and high dose Benfotiamine. And B6 I get from a multivitamin