Is Thiamine Mononitrate Vegan? Can Vegans Take Thiamine Mononitrate?

Also known as Vitamin B1, Thiamine Mononitrate is naturally found in many plants and vegetables, particularly in legumes and whole grains. Those that are found in some fish and meats are called Thiamine Triphosphate, which is different from Mononitrate. Synthetically created Thiamine Mononitrate is found in medications and food supplements.

In this article, we will learn more about Thiamine Mononitrate and its uses.

What Is Thiamine Mononitrate?

Naturally found in many plants, vegetables, seafood, and meats, Thiamine Mononitrate can also be made synthetically.

The human body can’t produce Thiamine Mononitrate, so it’s important to have it through foods and supplements.

It was the first water-soluble vitamin isolated from rice bran in 1910 by Umetaro Suzuki, a Japanese chemist.

He originally named it Aberic Acid but later renamed it Orizanin. However, it didn’t impress those who were outside Japan.

In 1911, Casimir Funk, a Polish biochemist, isolated an antineuritic substance from rice bran, which he named vitamine, containing an amino group. Funk, though wasn’t able to complete its chemical structure.

In 1926, Dutch chemists Barend Coenraad Petrus Jansen and Frederik Donath isolated yet another thiamine.

Jansen and Donath’s thiamine isolation was fully characterized and synthesized by American chemist Robert Runnels Williams and his team in 1936.

They named it “thio” or “sulfur-containing vitamin,” with the term “vitamin” to give credit to Funk’s vitamine.

Thiamine Mononitrate is widely prescribed for patients with thiamine deficiency, either taken by mouth, IV, or injection.

The WHO’s List of Essential Medicines includes Thiamine Mononitrate.

It’s also available as a non-prescription supplement in some countries and can also be availed as a generic medication.

Thiamine Mononitrate only occurs in one chemical compound and is water, glycerol, and methanol-soluble.

There have been no reports of serious medical issues because of Thiamine Mononitrate. But there are people with allergic reactions to it and sometimes feel nauseous.

Most prenatal vitamins also contain around 1.5 mg of Thiamine Mononitrate to help pregnant women’s micronutrient intake.

The human body stores up to 30 mg of Thiamine Mononitrate, with the biggest concentrations in the brain, heart, skeletal muscle, kidneys, and liver.

Thiamine Mononitrate Is Vegan

Whole grains, nuts, lentils, and peas are particularly rich in Thiamine Mononitrate.

It’s particularly difficult to understand the process of Thiamine Mononitrate that only biochemists can explain well.

However, in its purest and processed forms, Thiamine Mononitrate is typically vegan.

Thiamine Triphosphate, on the other hand, is mostly found in plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria.

This is another form of Thiamine and is different from Thiamine Mononitrate, which is only found in plants, vegetables, and some fruits.

Thiamine Mononitrate is processed with Thiamine Hydrochloride and is sourced from Thiamine Sulfate, which is also vegan.

It’s also used to fortify foods, which used to be a health issue before fortification became a thing. Thiamine Mononitrate has been fortified in many foods, which is a huge help for us.

Thiamine deficiency was common in the early days due to the low levels of Vitamin B1.

Common Foods with Great Amounts of Thiamine Mononitrate

Because Thiamine Mononitrate is mostly found in many plants, vegetables, and fruits, the only clear winner is the person who follows a vegan diet.

Why? It’s simply because Thiamine Mononitrate or Vitamin B1 is naturally and synthetically found in many vegan-friendly foods and supplements.

Here’s a list of a few examples.

• Vegan-friendly foods with natural Thiamine Mononitrate
  • Nuts
  • Oats
  • Lentils/Legumes
  • Seeds
  • Oranges or Orange Juice
  • Yeast
• Vegan-friendly foods that are Thiamine Mononitrate-fortified
  • Cereal
  • Pasta
  • White and Brown Rice
  • Bread
  • Flour
  • Faux meat (vegan burgers and more)

Thiamine Triphosphate is common in eggs, liver, pork, beef, and dried milk, which are apparently not suitable for vegans.

Thiamine Mononitrate Health Benefits

Because Vitamin B1 is water-soluble, this is easily washed out of your body through urine. This is one of the greatest health benefits of Thiamine Mononitrate as it doesn’t accumulate like the fat-soluble vitamins.

If you’re looking into taking a Vitamin B1 supplement, here are the other necessary health benefits it can give you.

• Helps the body easily convert carbs into energy.
• Breaks down alcohol content in the body.
• Boosts the immune system, which helps fight against viruses, fungi, or bacteria.
• Metabolizes amino acids.
• Regulates the electrolytes flow in your nerves and muscles.
• Helps strengthen the digestive system.
• Aids in normal growth and development.
• Helps fight against thiamine deficiency illnesses called beriberi, as well as Wernicke Encephalopathy, a neurological issue.
• Thiamine MononitrateHelps the body easily convert carbs into energy.
• Breaks down alcohol content in the body.
• Boosts the immune system, which helps fight against viruses, fungi, or bacteria.
• Metabolizes amino acids.
• Regulates the electrolytes flow in your nerves and muscles.
• Helps strengthen the digestive system.
• Aids in normal growth and development.
• Helps fight against thiamine deficiency illnesses called beriberi, as well as Wernicke Encephalopathy, a neurological issue.
• Thiamine Mononitrate is also known for creating Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), which is the energy source within cell levels.

Because Thiamine Mononitrate only goes in and out of the body, you’ll need to supplement by eating foods rich in Vitamin B1.

There are also a lot of dietary supplements that are Vitamin B1-based, which are helpful in your daily need for Thiamine Mononitrate.

• Solaray
• Bulk Supplements
• NOW Foods
• Solgar
• Nature Made
• Nutricost
• Mason Vitamins
• Swanson
• Source Naturals
• MaryRuth Organics

There are still a lot of vegan-friendly Vitamin B1 supplements out there to choose from. Many of them are even labeled vegan, which is easier for you to identify.

Just make sure to get one without any animal by-products involved, especially since there are Vitamin B1 brands that are also infused with other non-vegan substances.

Another important thing before taking Vitamin B1 supplements is to see your doctor. This is only on rare occasions, especially when you’re taking other medications.

Thiamine Mononitrate can have bad interactions with other drugs, which needs to be stabilized if you see your doctor first before taking it.

Macrolide antibiotics such as azithromycin are the most common medication that can have interactions with Vitamin B1. So, you may have to consult your physician first before taking the supplement.

Moreover, most pregnant women lack thiamine, which can lead to the poor development of the baby’s brain. On some occasions, thiamine deficiency in pregnant and lactating women also leads to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

This is one major reason why most pregnant women are prescribed Vitamin B1 supplements to aid their lack of thiamine in the body.

According to some studies and research, Vitamin B1 is a possible treatment for kidney disease and cataracts.

Also, a study published in The American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias states that thiamine can possibly help treat Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

According to the study, clinical trials of oral administration of thiamine on patients with AD have shown improvements in their cognitive functions.

But in elderly patients, the absorption of thiamine is weak. Further research and studies are needed for this undertaking, however.

On the other hand, something important to note is that drinking too much coffee or tea daily, even decaffeinated ones, can wash thiamine off your body quickly.

Also, people who often eat raw fish and shellfish and regularly chew betel nuts and tea leaves can also suffer from thiamine deficiency.

Health issues like Crohn’s disease, alcoholism, and anorexia can also impair the Thiamine Mononitrate levels in your body.

How Much Thiamine Mononitrate Does the Body Need Daily?

Like many other vitamins and essential minerals, there is also a recommended daily intake of Vitamin B1.

It’s worth noting that this recommendation does well with your health, especially since excessive thiamine intake can also cause health issues.

However, there have been no reports of severe health problems caused by a high intake of thiamine. You just have to do it with caution, although it’s best to follow the recommended intake by the health experts.

For adult men ages 19 and above, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 1.2 mg per day. For women, it should be 1.1 mg daily.

For pregnant and lactating women who often lack thiamine in the body, it’s recommended that they should take 1.4 mg of Vitamin B1 each day.

The Bottom Line

Thiamine Mononitrate is vegan in both forms, either naturally sourced or synthetically created. It’s another term for Vitamin B1, which is one of the essential B vitamins.

Since it doesn’t accumulate in the body because it’s water-soluble, it can be washed out easily. This is why we must take supplements and eat Vitamin B1-rich foods.

For kids, there are also many Vitamin B1 supplements to choose from. Flintstones Vitamins, for instance, are also rich in Vitamin B1, although it’s not vegan-friendly because it contains gelatin.

I have a detailed write-up about it in this article if you could check it out.

Nonetheless, Thiamine Mononitrate, or simply Vitamin B1, is vegan-friendly and one of the essential nutrients the human body needs.

Always make sure that you get enough of it from your vegan food and supplements.