Vitamin B1 or Thiamine in Infections

Thiamine is a member of the Vitamin B family. It is also known as Vitamin B1.

A vitamin substance is an organic substance that is essential for health and nutrition but are not produced in the body. That is why it should be present in food.

As mentioned in the article, thiamine is T in the MATH+ protocol; The MATH+ Protocol Results in Greater Survival in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients. Among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the MATH+ protocol results in 94.9% survival.

This article focuses on thiamine and its role in the treatment of sepsis or severe infections.

Uses of Thiamine in the Human Body

Body organs are composed of cells that need a reliable power source to function well. This power is supplied in the form of ATP or adenosine triphosphate that is produced by the mitochondria.

The mitochondria generate ATP thru a process called aerobic metabolism. The aerobic process uses the breakdown products of food and relies on thiamine to produce ATP. The aerobic metabolism is made possible by a chain of enzymes, depending on thiamine, to function.

In thiamine deficiencies, not enough ATP is produced. This forces the body to switch to a backup power system called the anaerobic mechanism.

The anaerobic system can still produce ATP, although at a lower rate. However, the anaerobic mechanism comes with a cost.

Lactic acid is produced as a by-product in anaerobic metabolism. Excessive production of lactic acid creates an acidic environment. In this hostile environment, cellular functions slow down or even come to a halt.

On top of that, thiamine deficiency can lead to the free-radical formation, and cells can potentially die early.

All of which combine and lead to defective organs. In sepsis, this manifests as a multi-system organ failure. That is why blood tests often measure the acid-base balance of septic patients.

Thiamine Deficiency States

Chronic thiamine deficiency is unusual in Western countries as wheat flour, cereals, and infant formulae are fortified with thiamine. However, some situations can bring about thiamine deficiency.

The recommended daily allowance for thiamine in adults is 1.0 to 1.2 mg a day. Thiamine does not stay in the body for long because of a short half-life of 1-12 hours.  The human body does not store as much thiamine as other animals, so the daily intake is essential.

Nutritional Deficiency and Poor absorption

When someone has a poor appetite when they have an infection, that can easily lead to thiamine deficiency.

Medical conditions like diabetes, alcoholism, gastric bypass procedures, and intestinal resection can lower thiamine levels because of high thiamine demand, poor nutrition, and lower intestinal absorption.

As we know, diabetes is a comorbidity that can result in worse COVID-19 outcomes.

Gastric bypass surgery, partial intestinal resection, and chronic inflammatory diseases of the bowel prevent dietary thiamine absorption.

Thiamine is also removed from polished white rice.  Attention white rice eaters!

Catabolic States

An anabolic state is when the body makes new cells or enlarge existing ones. In contrast, a catabolic state is when the body breaks down the cells into simpler molecules.

Catabolism happens after surgeries, illnesses, strenuous exercises, and trauma. In catabolic states, the cellular breakdown products are then used for energy or as new materials for making new cells.

In the rebuilding process, thiamine stores can be quickly depleted. During the early days of the pandemic, a study has shown that undetected COVID-19 in patients who undergo surgery can promptly develop complications.

That study is discussed in Why Scheduled Surgery Has to Wait in Covid-19. Nowadays, people who will undergo surgery have to be tested for COVID-19.

Prolonged and Intense Strenuous Activity

Marathon running depletes thiamine. This may be the reason why many marathon runners have been reported to have severe COVID-19, even if they are known to be physically fit. You can read about them here, here, and here.

Prolonged intense exercise can cause immunosuppression. This has something to do with the depletion of thiamine as the body recovers. There is also the production of excessive free radicals. That is why vitamin C, as an antioxidant, is a necessary supplement.

Water-pills and Hemodialysis

Water pills or diuretics are commonly prescribed for hypertension and heart failure. Recall that hypertension and heart failure also increases the risk of severe COVID-19.

People on hemodialysis can also have low levels of thiamine secondary to poor nutritional state and dialysis loss.

Studies of Thiamine in Septic Patients

Sepsis manifests as low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and fever. If left untreated, it can lead to death.

Thiamine deficiency can exist in as much as 71.3% was present in patients with septic shock.

A study has shown that patients given thiamine were associated with lower lactic acid levels and reduced 28-day mortality. This also applies to children with septic shock. Another study showed that thiamine administration prevented kidney failure.

In 2016, Dr. Paul Marik, an alliance member of FLCC who proposed the MATH+ protocol, published a study showing better outcomes in septic shock patients. Those patients were given thiamine, ascorbic acid, and hydrocortisone. The same components present in the MATH+ protocol.

Summary

Vitamin B1 or thiamine is essential for normal body processes. Many conditions can cause thiamine deficiencies. Thiamine is needed for a healthy immune system and to recover from diseases like the COVID-19 infection.

Knowledge about Covid-19 is rapidly evolving. Information may update as new researches are done. Stay current by subscribing. Feel free to share.

Don’t Get Sick!

Reference:

Ari Moskowitz,  Michael W. Donnino. Thiamine (vitamin B1) in septic shock: a targeted therapy. Journal of Thoracic Disease. Vol 12, Supplement 1 (February 2020)

Woolum et al.  Effect of Thiamine Administration on Lactate Clearance and Mortality in Patients With Septic Shock*, Critical Care Medicine: November 2018 – Volume 46 – Issue 11 – p 1747-1752 doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000003311

Photo credit: CC BY-SA 2.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=457327

 

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