Relationship of dietary vitamin B1 and the level of risk for dementia

Introduction: Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) is an essential cofactor for enzymes involving in brain glucose metabolism. The purpose of this study was to define the association between dietary vitamin B1 and the level of risk for dementia. Materials and Methods: In this study we used an age and sex matched case control method, consisting of 120 men and women of 50 years (± 2) of age and older. Data were collected at ‘Iran Alzheimer Association’, Tehran, in 2013. The experimental cases (with dementia) and controls (normal) (n = 60) were randomly selected. Dietary information was collected using ‘food frequency questionnaire’ and a 24-hour food recall questionnaire, and analyzed using the food processor Nutritionist IV. Results: The cases mean intake of vitaminB1 from the food sources was less than controls, before and after adjustment for confounding factors. In the effect of total energy intake method, the highest tertiles for vitamin B1 intake and the risk for dementia was obtained at (OR: 0.02 95% CI, 0.004 to 0.14), with a P-value < 0.001 in comparison to the first tertile. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that a high vitaminB1 intake from the food sources may reduce the risk of dementia. Maintaining the effective levels through the consumption of specific foods is a viable option to prevent dementiaoccurrence and progression