Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) urine test

This test is performed to get information on whether you are getting enough thiamine from dietary consumption.

Your doctor may order this test if you show the symptoms of thiamine deficiency. The initial symptoms seen in thiamine deficiency are as follows:

• Loss of appetite
• Short-term memory loss
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Confusion

Some of the following symptoms develop over time:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Poor coordination
• Pain
• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Muscle weakness
• Depression

Sometimes a person with thiamine deficiency goes on to develop conditions like Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome, wet beriberi or dry beriberi, the symptoms of which are as follows. 

Symptoms of Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome are:

• Loss of memory
• Hallucinations
• Confusion between real and imagined memories

Symptoms of wet beriberi include:

• Swelling
• Increased heart rate
• Enlarged heart
• Breathing problem
• Sweating
• Heart failure in the right side
• Sudden death

Symptoms of dry beriberi are:

• Nerve problems:
  • Polyneuritis (peripheral nerve changes)
  • Numbness and tingling of toes
  • Burning feeling in feet
• Muscle problems: Pain in the legs, muscle cramps and wasting (atrophy)

Certain people have a higher risk of having inadequate vitamin B1. These include:

• People with chronic alcohol use disorders
• Older adults
• People with AIDS/HIV
• People with diabetes
• People who underwent bariatric surgery for weight loss
  
  Are you also troubled by obesity and are not able to lose weight even after a lot of efforts, then start using myUpchar Ayurveda Medarodh Weight Control Tablet today and control your weight.

You do not need to prepare for this test.

Vitamin B1 urine test is performed on a 24-hour sample (as opposed to a random urine sample) as it is more reliable.

You will be provided with a special container for sample collection. Your doctor may give you the following instructions for collecting and storing the urine sample:

• It is best to begin sample collection in the morning.
• Do not collect the first urine of the day but record the time as the beginning of the 24-hour period.
• Through the next 24 hours, you will have to collect a urine sample every time you empty your bladder. 
• In between sample collection, store the urine container in the refrigerator or an icebox.
• At the end of 24 hours, return the container to the laboratory as instructed.

Normal results:

In adults, the acceptable value of vitamin B1 in the urine is 100 fg (femtogram = 10−15 g) per 24 hours. It indicates a low risk of developing vitamin B1 deficiency conditions.

Abnormal results:

If your urine thiamine levels are in the range of 40-99 fg per 24 hours, it means that you are at a moderate risk of developing conditions related to B1 deficiency. 

However, if you release less than 40 fg thiamine per 24 hours in urine, it could be an indication of B1 deficiency.

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.