Vitamin B1 (also called thiamine) is essential for the body to turn sugar into energy. When we don’t have enough vitamin B1 two things happen. First, we get symptoms of low blood sugar. Some people feel anxious. In women PMS symptoms may get worse. Second, we crave sugar.
Vitamin B1 deficiency often shows on basic blood work. The lab test you want to look for is the anion gap.
What is anion gap?
Anion gap primarily tests for metabolic acidosis. This is a condition where the blood is too acidic. It is not a single marker. It’s calculated off of other labs. If you don’t see it printed out on your labs, you still may calculate it.
Anion Gap = (Sodium + Potassium) – (Chloride + Carbon Dioxide)
Sodium and potassium carry a positive charge. These are the cations. Chloride and carbon dioxide carry a negative charge. These are the anions. The anion gap is the difference between positively charged cations, and the negatively charged anions.
So, for example, if you lab test comes back:
Sodium: 140
Potassium: 4.0
Chloride: 104
Carbon Dioxide: 28
The anion Gap will be:
(140 + 4.0) – (104 + 28) = 12
What Does An Elevated Anion Gap Mean?
The reference range for anion gap is about 6 – 16. If the anion gap is elevated, it typically shows metabolic acidosis. This a condition where the blood is too acidic.
As a naturopathic doctor I use a tighter, more functional reference range. 7 – 12 is ideal. If it’s higher some considerations, I have may be to supplement with electrolytes, or give vitamin B1.
The question I always ask my clients when I see an elevated anion gap is if they feel hungry all the time. If the answer is yes and their symptoms match those of vitamin B1 deficiency, then I’ll tell them to supplement.
Alcohol is actually quickly converted into sugar. I have seen cases where people didn’t crave sugar, but alcohol. The treatment was the same vitamin B1 supplementation. In fact, one theory of alcoholism is that it’s really caused by low blood sugar. This causes people to crave alcohol because it’s a quick source of energy.
I will not reduce something as complicated as alcoholism down to just low blood sugar. I will say I have seen nutritional supplements used to control blood sugar help alcoholics.
What Vitamin B1 supplement is the best?
Vitamin B1 is present in high amounts in most multivitamins and B complexes. If a need for thiamine is still present the supplement, I use is Bio-3b-g from Biotics. This production doesn’t have a large amount of vitamin B1 compared to many other B complexes. It’s actually much less than many other. However, the form of vitamin B1 used (cocarboxylase chloride), works well in cases of sugar cravings. Even if someone is already taking a B complex, if they have signs of needing vitamin B1 and an elevated anion gap, I’ll still give bio-3b-g.