Beriberi: What Disease is Caused Due to Lack of Vitamin B1?

December 28, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the National Institutes of Health, severe thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency can deplete body stores in as little as two to three weeks. This rapid depletion can cause a serious and potentially life-threatening condition known as beriberi, which affects the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

Quick Summary

This article provides a comprehensive overview of beriberi, the disease resulting from a severe deficiency of vitamin B1. It details the two primary types, wet and dry beriberi, their distinct symptoms, associated risk factors, diagnostic procedures, and available treatments, including supplementation and dietary changes.

Key Points

Beriberi is the core disease: It is the medical condition specifically caused by a severe deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine).
Two main types exist: Beriberi is categorized into wet beriberi, which affects the heart, and dry beriberi, which targets the nervous system.
Dry beriberi symptoms are neurological: These include numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and confusion, resulting from nerve damage.
Wet beriberi is cardiovascular: It is marked by a rapid heart rate, swelling of the legs, and can lead to heart failure.
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a severe complication: Prolonged thiamine deficiency can lead to this serious brain disorder, causing permanent memory loss.
Risk factors include alcohol abuse and poor diet: Chronic alcoholism and diets high in refined carbohydrates are common causes of thiamine deficiency.
Treatment involves thiamine supplementation: Early intervention with oral or intravenous thiamine is effective and can reverse much of the damage.
Prevention is key: A balanced diet with thiamine-rich foods and addressing underlying health issues are essential preventative measures.

Understanding Beriberi: The Disease from Vitamin B1 Deficiency

Beriberi is the disease caused by a severe deficiency of vitamin B1, or thiamine. Thiamine is an essential nutrient that plays a critical role in the body's energy metabolism, helping convert the food we eat into usable energy. It is also vital for the proper function of the nervous system and muscles. When the body lacks sufficient thiamine, these essential processes are disrupted, leading to the development of beriberi. While the condition is rare in countries with access to fortified foods, it remains a serious health concern in regions with poor nutrition and among specific at-risk populations.

The Two Faces of Beriberi: Wet vs. Dry

Beriberi presents in two primary forms, each affecting different systems of the body. Understanding the distinction is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Dry Beriberi

Dry beriberi predominantly affects the nervous system. Symptoms develop as a result of nerve damage and loss of muscle function.

Neurological symptoms: These include a pins-and-needles sensation in the toes, a burning feeling in the feet (especially severe at night), and leg cramps.
Motor function issues: Symmetrical motor and sensory deficits are common, along with decreased muscle function, particularly in the lower legs. In advanced cases, muscle atrophy and even paralysis can occur.
Other signs: Confusion, speech difficulties, pain, vomiting, and involuntary eye movements (nystagmus) can also manifest.

Wet Beriberi

Wet beriberi impacts the cardiovascular system, making it a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.

Heart abnormalities: The heart works harder and faster to compensate for the deficiency, which can lead to congestive heart failure.
Fluid accumulation: Poor circulation causes blood vessels to dilate and fluid to accumulate, resulting in swelling (edema), particularly in the lower legs.
Respiratory distress: Patients may experience shortness of breath, especially with activity, or awaken at night gasping for air.
Other symptoms: A rapid heart rate (tachycardia) is a key feature of wet beriberi.

The Link to Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

In severe and prolonged cases of thiamine deficiency, particularly in individuals with chronic alcohol use disorder, beriberi can progress to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. This is a severe and life-threatening brain disorder with two stages:

Wernicke's encephalopathy: This acute phase is characterized by confusion, ataxia (problems with coordination and walking), and eye problems like nystagmus and partial eye muscle paralysis.
Korsakoff's psychosis: If left untreated, Wernicke's encephalopathy can lead to this chronic stage, which results in permanent memory loss, an inability to form new memories, and confabulation (making up stories to fill memory gaps).

Risk Factors for Thiamine Deficiency

While a balanced diet is protective, certain populations and conditions increase the risk of developing beriberi:

Chronic alcohol use disorder: Alcohol impairs the body's ability to absorb, use, and store thiamine, and heavy drinkers often have poor overall nutrition.
Poor nutrition: Diets relying heavily on processed, unenriched white rice or highly refined carbohydrates are a classic cause of beriberi.
Malabsorption issues: Conditions like Crohn's disease, severe or persistent diarrhea, or malabsorption syndromes can prevent adequate thiamine uptake.
Bariatric surgery: Procedures like gastric bypass can lead to malabsorption and severe nutritional deficiencies, including thiamine deficiency.
Kidney disease: Patients undergoing dialysis are at a higher risk of thiamine deficiency.
Hyperemesis gravidarum: Extreme vomiting during pregnancy can lead to severe malnutrition and thiamine deficiency.

Treatment and Prevention

Prompt treatment of beriberi with thiamine supplements is crucial for recovery. For severe cases, intravenous administration is necessary, while milder deficiencies can be managed with oral supplements. Treatment can often reverse early nerve and heart damage, but permanent brain damage from Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is possible if the deficiency is not addressed in time.

Prevention focuses on a balanced diet rich in thiamine. Excellent food sources include whole grains, fortified cereals and breads, pork, fish, beans, nuts, and seeds. Additionally, addressing underlying health conditions and reducing alcohol consumption are key preventative strategies for high-risk individuals. For comprehensive information on addressing nutritional deficiencies, consulting reliable sources is recommended, such as the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheet on thiamin.

Comparison of Wet and Dry Beriberi


Feature	Wet Beriberi	Dry Beriberi
Affected System	Cardiovascular System	Nervous System
Key Symptoms	Rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, fluid retention (edema)	Numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, confusion
Primary Cause	Impaired myocardial energy metabolism leading to heart failure	Degeneration of peripheral nerves
Affected Limbs	Swelling, typically in lower legs	Loss of muscle function and sensation in extremities
Severity	A life-threatening medical emergency requiring immediate treatment	Can cause permanent nerve damage if untreated
Progression	Can lead to congestive heart failure and sudden death	Can progress to paralysis and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

Conclusion

Beriberi, the disease caused by a lack of vitamin B1, is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that can manifest in different forms, affecting either the cardiovascular or nervous systems. Early recognition of symptoms, prompt diagnosis, and appropriate thiamine treatment are vital for a good prognosis and for preventing permanent damage. Maintaining a diet rich in thiamine-containing foods and addressing underlying risk factors are the most effective ways to prevent this deficiency and ensure overall health and well-being. Awareness of beriberi's causes, symptoms, and treatment options is an important step in protecting oneself and others from this preventable disease.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary disease caused by a lack of vitamin B1 (thiamine) is called beriberi, which can affect the nervous system and cardiovascular system.

The two main types are wet beriberi, which impacts the heart and circulatory system, and dry beriberi, which damages the nerves.

Early symptoms can be vague and include fatigue, irritability, poor memory, loss of appetite, and muscle weakness.

Individuals with chronic alcohol use disorder, those with malabsorption issues, people who have had bariatric surgery, and those with diets consisting mainly of refined carbohydrates are most at risk.

Yes, a severe and prolonged deficiency can lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a serious brain disorder causing confusion, loss of coordination, and permanent memory problems.

Diagnosis is based on a physical exam, a review of symptoms, and confirmed through blood and urine tests that measure thiamine levels.

Treatment involves thiamine supplementation, given either orally or intravenously, depending on the severity of the deficiency. Addressing underlying dietary causes is also crucial.

Yes, beriberi is preventable by consuming a balanced diet rich in thiamine-containing foods such as whole grains, pork, fish, beans, nuts, and fortified cereals.

Damage to the heart and nervous system is often reversible with early treatment, but if the deficiency leads to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, some brain damage may be permanent.