Thiamine is one of the B vitamins, a group of water-soluble vitamins that participate in many of the chemical reactions in the body.

Thiamine / Vitamin B1 helps the body cells convert carbohydrates into energy. It is also essential for the functioning of the heart, muscles, and nervous system.

Thiamine / Vitamin B1 is found in fortified breads, cereals, pasta, whole grains (especially wheat germ), lean meats (especially pork), fish, dried beans, peas, and soybeans.

Dairy products fruits, and vegetables are not very high in thiamine, but when consumed in large amounts, they become a significant source.

A deficiency of thiamine can cause weakness, fatigue, psychosis, and nerve damage. Thiamine deficiency in the U.S. and is most often seen in alcoholics, because heavy drinking limits the ability of the body to absorb this vitamin from foods.
In severe deficiency, brain damage can occur.

Many people think that if some vitamins are good, a lot is better.
This is not always the case, and high doses of certain vitamins are actually toxic.
Read about the specific vitamins and check with your health care provider if you are unsure about how much to take -- and how much may be too much.

The best way to get the daily requirement of Thiamine / Vitamin B1 is to eat a balanced diet that contains a variety of foods and take a "Standardized" (quality) multivitamin supplement.