Thiamine

Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1 helps metabolise carbohydrates and fats in the body to manufacture energy.
It is very important in growth and development, as well as maintaining the performance of the heart and the nervous and digestive systems.

While thiamine cannot be housed within the body, it is filtered into the muscle tissue once absorbed.
Thiamine deficiencies are the results of many conditions, most notably alcoholism. Illnesses that are linked with thiamine deficiencies are Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and beriberi.

To detect a lack of thiamine in the body, a measurement of transketolase in erythrocyte is tested.

People suffering from alcoholism often receive thiamine during their detoxification & treatment at an addiction rehabilitation centre as loss of the thiamine is a consequences of long term drinking.