Thiamine is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin, also known as B1. It helps convert the food you eat into energy, acting specifically on carbohydrate metabolism and also playing a role in the metabolism of fats, proteins, and nucleic acids (DNA, RNA). It contributes to the body’s normal growth and development, while supporting the proper functioning of the heart, skin, nervous system, and digestive system.
Pork provides vitality, as it contains high doses of thiamine, which is needed to help the body absorb carbohydrates, with levels up to 10 times higher than in beef.
Thiamine deficiency is known as beriberi. It is a form of polyneuritis, a condition affecting the central nervous system that presents with fatigue and muscle weakness.
The recommended dietary intake of vitamin B1 for the Spanish population is 0.9–1.2 mg/day. The ANIBES study, which assessed how well the diet of the Spanish population meets nutritional targets, found that 71.2% of the population meets thiamine recommendations, with meat and meat products being the main sources of this nutrient.
