Figure %: Thiamin Content of Selected Foods

Supplementation

Thiamin therapy is used in the treatment of alcoholics. Malnutrition often develops from alcohol and a poor diet, leading to neurological disorders. Infections increase cellular energy requirements and therefore thiamin requirements. Thiamin administration to beriberi patients ranges from 50-100 mg given intravenously or intramuscularly for one or two weeks. The dose can then be dropped to 10 mg until the patient recovers.