Many People Are Deficient In This Essential Vitamin – And You’ve Probably Never Heard Of It

Being low in this nutrient can lead to fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating and more. Here's how to get more of it.

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No matter how well-rounded you try to make your diet, sometimes certain nutrients fall through the cracks. This includes a vitamin responsible for many mental and physical health benefits that you may have never even heard of before: thiamine, or vitamin B1.

“Vitamin B1, or thiamine, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a critical role in energy metabolism and nerve function, helping convert carbohydrates into usable energy for the body and brain,” Rachele Pojednic, chief science officer at RestoreLabs and director of education at Stanford Lifestyle Medicine, told HuffPost.

This important vitamin “helps the body convert carbohydrates into energy and supports cognitive and neuromuscular health,” according to Dr. Eve Elizabeth K. Pennie, a general practitioner, clinical research professional and medical expert.

According to a September 2021 review in the journal Cells, different patient populations across various studies have shown rates of thiamine deficiency ranging from 20% to over 90%. This review speculates that a modern lifestyle is........

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