INFORMATION FOR WOMEN WHO HAVE THIAMINE DEFICIENCY DURING PREGNANCY OR BREASTFEEDING

What is thiamine deficiency during pregnancy?

Thiamine (thiamin) deficiency is a deficiency of thiamine, also called vitamin B1, which can develop for several reasons, including alcoholism (common) and a lack of thiamine in the diet. There also are important connections between thiamine deficiency and diabetes because of the role that thiamine plays in the metabolism of sugars. Classically, the simple lack of thiamine in the diet has been associated with certain diets, especially those dominated by polished rice. This does not happen today, in developed countries, due to the enrichment of numerous foods with thiamine, but thiamine deficiency is possible in the setting of the popular “gluten-free” diet, which avoids whole grains (a good source of thiamine) yet is appropriate, only for those who suffer from celiac disease, but not for everybody else. During pregnancy, your need for thiamine increases, and thiamine deficiency can develop as a complication of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a condition that features severe nausea and vomiting, with weight loss and liver problems.