Hi all,

I just wanted to touch base on B1. As of yet, I have not seen any users posting about this particular vitamin. I know that it can cause all types of neuro symptoms if a deficiency is present. Given it is very rare to have a def. I assume that is why I'm not hearing it spoke about as freely as so many others and of course B 12.

I was wondering if anyone on here is def. or borderline low. I am on the lower end of normal according to my labs. Of course my GP didnt think it a problem and simply prescribed me to a prescription dose to "see". Any additional info if you have it would be great

B1 (thiamine) used to be used commonly years ago for neuropathies. When gabapentin arrived, it was dropped.

I think this was a shame...as the B1 could actually be a fixer, rather than a symptom suppressor as gabapentin etc are.

We have current threads on PD forum here about it right now in regards to PD treatments:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread216496.html

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread215273.html

Benfotiamine has arrived in the US from Europe where it has been studied and used for many years for PN. Many on this forum use it, including me. It has also come way down in price and is more available here than before -- it used to have to be imported..and was very expensive for most people.

People can have a genetic flaw in thiamine metabolism. It is a cofactor in hydrogenases which metabolize carbs, and aldehydes. People who cannot tolerate alcohol, due to genetics are thought to have this flaw and need extra thiamine.

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/thiamin/

I believe that b-6 can be overdone, also my Neuro stopped me from supplementing Zinc as there is a Zinc-Copper ratio that needs specific parameters so I will not add these to my diet unless RX to do it. Good Luck, Ken in Texas.

Hi Ken - thanks for this - do you have any more info on the zinc-copper ratio ie: what the parameters are? Are there any neuro symptoms as a result of excess or deficiency?

High doses of Vitamin B6 can be harmful to some people. For example, someone who has CMT.

I tell all I know. I wish I could sit down and have the time with a Neuro to get in depth answers like yours. It was my third Neuro before I heard what I did. Good Luck, Ken in Texas.