Beriberi Information - symptoms, picture, cause of Beriberi disease

Beriberi Information

Beriberi is caused due to vitamin b1 deficiency. Beriberi can be defined as the vitamin deficiency disease caused by inadequate bodily stores of thiamine (vitamin B1). It can damage the heart and nervous system. Beriberi, although uncommon, can be found among alcoholics. Alcohol-related thiamin deficiency is caused by inadequate intakes of thiamin as well as impaired absorption and storage. Beriberi can also appear, in breast-fed infants when the mother has an inadequate intake of thiamin or if the infant is fed unusual formulas without thiamin supplements. Deficiencies may also be found in people whose diet includes certain types of fish that produce an enzyme that inactivates thiamin.

Beriberi Symptoms

Here are the list of Beriberi Symptoms :

• Difficulty walking
• Coma
• Vomiting
• irritability
• fatigue
• restlessness
• decreased appetite
• Strange eye movements (nystagmus)

Complications of Beriberi

• seizures and subsequent injuries
• psychosis
• congestive heart failure

Treatment of Beriberi

• Adequate intake of thiamin will prevent beriberi. Nursing mothers should insure that their diet is adequate in all vitamins and be sure that infant formulas contain thiamin.
• Alcoholics, the elderly, people in stress, and elite athletes also need to focus on well-balanced diet and may require B-vitamin supplementation to ensure appropriate intake and utilization of thiamin.
• Good dietary sources of thiamin are whole grains, lean pork, and legumes. Thiamin is not present in fats, oils, and refined sugars and is destroyed by heat, pasteurization, and ionizing radiation.