Vitamin B1 for Kids: Understanding the Role of This Nutrient

Key points:

• Vitamin B1 for kids is an essential nutrient with a variety of health benefits.
• Vitamin B1 deficiency can result in serious health conditions, such as beriberi.
• Vitamin supplements can ensure your child gets enough of the nutrient.

Vitamins play an important role in children’s health, growth, and development. It’s essential to know which ones they need and how to get them.

Vitamin B1 is one of the nutrients your kids can’t afford to miss. But how familiar are you with vitamin B1 for kids?

In this post, we’ll explore the basics of vitamin B1 for kids. Read on to learn what vitamin B1 is, how much vitamin B1 your kids need every day, the food sources of vitamin B1, and how to supplement it if necessary.

Vitamin B1 for Kids: The Basics

Vitamins are organic substances the body requires in small amounts to function well. Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, is a water-soluble vitamin that belongs to the B complex group of vitamins. 

Other water-soluble vitamins in the B complex group are riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), biotin (B7), folic acid (B9), and cobalamin (B12).

Vitamin B1 is essential, meaning it can’t be produced by the body and must be obtained from the diet. Also, water-soluble vitamins can’t be stored by the body because they’re easily lost in the urine. Therefore, vitamin B1 must constantly be replenished to avoid its deficiency.

Before we look at how you can ensure your kids don’t miss out on this important nutrient, let’s see why they need it in the first place.

Benefits of Vitamin B1 for Kids

Vitamin B1 is important due to several reasons. For your kids to be healthy and full of energy, they need adequate amounts of vitamin B1.

The health benefits of vitamin B1 are:

1. Helps in Energy Production 

When we eat, the food needs to be broken down to release the energy it contains. Vitamin B1 plays a role in the breakdown of carbohydrates and amino acids from food to produce energy that the body can utilize.

2. Needed for a Healthy Nervous System

Vitamin B1 is important for healthy nerve function. It helps in the synthesis of acetylcholine, a substance needed for communication between nerves. 

3. Supports Cardiovascular Function

Thiamine is necessary for the production of energy needed for the contraction of heart muscles. Lack of vitamin B1 can lead to a range of heart diseases, ranging from wet beriberi to heart failure.

4. Supports the Immune System

Vitamin B1 strengthens the immune system by reducing inflammation. Inflammation is a biological process that’s damaging to the cells. Vitamin B1 boosts the body’s ability to withstand stressful conditions, which cause inflammation.

Whole Foods Rich in Vitamin B1

The best way to obtain vitamin B1 is through the diet, but that’s if you have access to these food sources and can get your kids to consume them. Vitamin B1 is usually found in protein-rich foods like legumes, whole grains, and nuts.

The food sources of vitamin B1 include:

• Lentils
• Beans 
• Green peas
• Corn
• Sunflower seeds
• Flax seeds
• Brown rice
• Asparagus

Are Your Kids Getting Enough Vitamin B1?

Since vitamin B1 can’t be stored by the body, regular intake is required to maintain adequate levels. The reference for how much vitamin B1 your kids need every day is provided by the Recommended Daily Allowance.

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) refers to the average daily level of intake required to meet the nutritional requirements of a healthy person. The RDA is an important guide to how much of a nutrient your kids need to avoid deficiencies and remain healthy.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the RDAs for thiamine are:

• Birth to 6 months: 0.2 mg
• 7-12 months: 0.3 mg
• 1-3 years: 0.5 mg
• 4-8 years: 0.6 mg
• 9-13 years: 0.9 mg
• 14-18 years: 1-1.2 mg

What Happens If Your Kids Lack Vitamin B1?

Though vitamin B1 is needed in very small quantities, the ramifications of vitamin B1 deficiency can be huge. One of the most serious health effects of thiamine deficiency is a disease called beriberi.

Beriberi is a condition that causes damage to both the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Though it’s rare in the U.S., if your child suffers from malnutrition or chronic diarrhea, they could be at risk of beriberi. Infants of breastfeeding mothers who lack enough vitamin B1 are also at risk.

The symptoms of vitamin B1 deficiency that you should look out for are:

• Fatigue
• Increased heart rate
• Paralysis or numbness of the limbs
• Confusion and memory problems
• Visual impairments
• Irritability
• Muscle weakness
• Weight loss and anorexia

If you notice any of these symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider for medical advice.

Vitamin B1 Supplements for Kids

Vitamin B1 is available in a variety of foods, so you might be wondering why your kids would need vitamin B1 supplements?

Kids are usually at risk of vitamin B1 deficiency for several reasons. First, they have picky eating habits that might exclude important micronutrient sources. Second, their gut isn’t well developed to absorb and process the nutrients from whole foods. Third, frequent illnesses like diarrhea make them lose vital nutrients from the body.

Vitamin B1 supplements can come in handy to help your kids achieve adequate levels of the nutrient. However, you should always consult your healthcare provider before giving your kids any supplements. 

And with so many brands on the market, it can be difficult to figure out which one is best for your child. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates dietary supplements differently than food and drugs, so make sure you do your research to check that the brand you’re buying from is trustworthy, and read the product label carefully.

Only go for products from reputable brands with an established track record. The three things you should look out for are:

1. Quality and safety: Good supplements are made from natural, healthy ingredients with little or no added artificial ingredients.
2. Third-party testing: Third-party testing adds an extra layer of quality control.
3. Dosage: Supplement overdose can have side effects. Read supplement product labels carefully and choose products formulated for children.

With this in mind, where can you get the best high-quality supplements for your kids? Llama Naturals is here for you. Our whole-fruit gummy vitamins are made from real fruit and vegetables, slow-cooked to retain their goodness.

Llama Naturals Multivitamin Gummies: Your Best Choice

Thanks to Llama Naturals, getting the best high-quality supplements has never been this easy. Llama Naturals’ whole-fruit gummy vitamins are packed with 13 essential plant-based vitamins, including folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B1 for kids, carefully formulated for optimal absorption.

Our gummies are made from whole fruits and vegetables, slow-cooked to retain the rich phytonutrients and fruit flavor. They contain no added sugar, artificial sweeteners, flavors, or synthetic vitamins that are hard to absorb. Yet, they still taste great. 

Each serving of Llama Naturals gummies delivers nature’s goodness in delicious, bite-sized, and chewable portions that your kids will absolutely love. To top it all off, the gummies are fully organic and vegan without any unhealthy additives.

Vitamin B1 for Kids: The Healthy Start Your Kids Deserve

Vitamin B1 is one of the nutrients your child needs to be healthy and full of energy. Without it, they’re at risk of serious health conditions.

Luckily, it doesn’t have to reach that point. Beyond encouraging a healthy diet, vitamin supplements are also available to ensure your child gets enough of this nutrient. If you’re looking for somewhere to start, Llama Naturals has you covered. Choose Llama Naturals’ supplements for the healthy start your little one deserves.

Llama Naturals is a plant-based nutrition brand that has created the World's First Whole Fruit Gummy Vitamins that are made with no added sugar and whole-food vitamins. They are USDA Organic, Vegan, Gluten Free, free of common allergens, and are slow-cooked on low heat to retain rich phytonutrients & fruit flavor. It’s a win-win gummy vitamin that the whole family will love.