Does Rice Cause Beriberi? The Truth About Thiamine Deficiency

December 27, 2025 •

4 min read

Historically, beriberi was widespread in Southeast Asia among populations consuming diets consisting primarily of polished white rice, according to the medical encyclopedia Britannica. This was due to a severe thiamine deficiency, prompting the critical question: does rice cause beriberi, or is there a more nuanced reason behind this nutritional disease?

Quick Summary

This article clarifies that polished white rice, not rice itself, can lead to beriberi due to its lack of thiamine. It provides an overview of the disease, covering its history, types, symptoms, diagnosis, and preventative measures.

Key Points

Polished Rice is the Problem: Beriberi is not caused by rice in general, but by polished, unenriched white rice, which lacks the essential vitamin thiamine.
Thiamine Loss during Milling: The polishing process removes the thiamine-rich bran and germ layers of the rice grain, drastically reducing its vitamin B1 content.
Two Forms of Beriberi: The disease can manifest as 'wet' beriberi (affecting the heart and circulation) or 'dry' beriberi (damaging the nervous system).
Prevention is Key: Eating a varied diet that includes thiamine-rich foods, such as whole grains, legumes, and fortified cereals, prevents beriberi.
Historically Significant: The link between polished rice and beriberi was a crucial discovery in the history of nutritional science, leading to the identification of vitamins.
Treatment is Simple: Beriberi is treatable with thiamine supplements, though early diagnosis is important to prevent lasting damage to the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

The Misconception: Polished Rice and Thiamine Deficiency

To understand the link between rice and beriberi, it is crucial to recognize the distinction between different types of rice. The notion that rice itself causes beriberi is a misunderstanding; the true culprit is the nutritional deficiency caused by relying solely on polished, unenriched white rice. During the milling process, the rice grain's outer layers, specifically the bran and germ, are removed to produce a whiter, smoother, and longer-lasting product. Unfortunately, these layers are also where most of the grain's thiamine (vitamin B1) is stored. The result is that unenriched white rice retains only about a tenth of the thiamine found in brown rice. When a person's diet consists almost exclusively of this thiamine-depleted staple, with few other sources of vitamins, the risk of developing beriberi becomes extremely high.

A Historical Perspective: The Discovery of a Deficiency

The connection between polished rice and beriberi became evident in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As technology made rice milling more efficient, highly polished white rice became widely available and a dietary staple for many, particularly in East and Southeast Asia. During this time, the incidence of beriberi skyrocketed. For example, the disease ravaged the Japanese navy in the 1880s until a medical director, Takaki Kanehiro, successfully eliminated it on his ships by diversifying the diet away from solely white rice. Similarly, a Dutch physician, Christiaan Eijkman, observed that chickens fed polished rice developed beriberi-like symptoms, which were cured by switching them to unpolished rice. This work helped establish the concept of deficiency diseases and paved the way for the discovery of vitamins.

The Different Faces of Beriberi: Wet and Dry

Beriberi presents in two primary forms, affecting different body systems:

Wet Beriberi: This form primarily impacts the cardiovascular system. Symptoms include a rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, and swelling of the lower legs, which can lead to life-threatening heart failure.
Dry Beriberi: This form affects the nervous system. Common symptoms are numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, muscle pain and weakness (particularly in the legs), and confusion. A severe progression of dry beriberi can lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which involves severe memory loss and psychosis.

Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Diagnosis: A doctor diagnoses beriberi by reviewing a patient's diet and symptoms. Blood and urine tests can measure thiamine levels, and a physical exam checks for neurological and cardiac abnormalities. A positive response to thiamine supplementation is often used to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment: The treatment is straightforward: replacing the missing thiamine. For severe cases, this involves intravenous thiamine administration, which can lead to a quick and dramatic recovery. Milder cases may be treated with oral supplements.

Prevention: Preventing beriberi is a matter of dietary choices. Including whole grains, fortified foods, and a variety of other thiamine-rich sources is key. Limiting alcohol intake is also vital, as alcohol interferes with the body's ability to absorb thiamine.

Comparison Table: Polished White Rice vs. Unpolished Rice


Feature	Polished (White) Rice	Unpolished (Brown) Rice
Nutritional Content	Low in fiber, B vitamins, and minerals, especially thiamine.	High in fiber, B vitamins (including thiamine), and minerals.
Glycemic Index (GI)	Higher GI, causing faster blood sugar spikes.	Lower GI, leading to a more gradual rise in blood sugar levels.
Texture & Flavor	Soft and mild flavor.	Chewier, with a nutty flavor.
Cooking Time	Shorter cooking time.	Longer cooking time.
Shelf Life	Longer shelf life due to removed oils.	Shorter shelf life; oils in the bran can go rancid.

Making Healthier Rice Choices

Choosing unpolished brown rice is a simple way to increase thiamine and fiber intake. If white rice is a cultural staple, opting for fortified white rice is a viable preventative measure. Fortification, the process of adding vitamins and minerals back into the grain, has significantly reduced beriberi incidence in many countries.

Dietary Strategies for Thiamine Intake

Beyond choosing the right rice, a well-balanced diet rich in thiamine is the best defense. Excellent sources include:

Meat: Pork is a particularly rich source.
Legumes: Beans and lentils.
Seeds and Nuts: Sunflower seeds, macadamia nuts.
Fish: Trout, bluefin tuna, and salmon.
Fortified Grains: Many breakfast cereals, bread, and pasta are enriched with thiamine.

Conclusion

The assertion that rice causes beriberi is a harmful oversimplification that ignores the nuanced reality of nutritional science. Plain, polished white rice, when it forms the bulk of a diet, can indeed lead to beriberi because the polishing process removes the essential vitamin B1, thiamine. However, whole-grain brown rice and fortified white rice are not only safe but can be key components of a healthy, balanced diet. The story of beriberi serves as a powerful reminder of how food processing can alter nutritional value and highlights the critical importance of dietary diversity to ensure adequate vitamin intake.

For more information on preventing thiamine deficiency, consult the resources provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), such as their guidance on nutritional deficiencies in emergencies, available at who.int.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can get beriberi from eating only polished, unenriched white rice for prolonged periods, especially if your diet lacks other thiamine-rich foods. Brown rice or fortified white rice, however, does not cause beriberi.

Brown rice is a whole grain that retains its outer bran and germ layers, which are rich in thiamine. White rice is polished, and these layers are removed, stripping it of most of its thiamine content.

Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is a water-soluble vitamin essential for the body's cells to convert carbohydrates into energy. It plays a critical role in nerve and muscle function.

For most people in developed nations, consuming a varied diet that includes fortified foods like cereals and bread provides sufficient thiamine to prevent beriberi. However, in regions where malnutrition is prevalent, or for individuals with specific risk factors, dietary diversity is still crucial.

Early symptoms of thiamine deficiency can be vague and include fatigue, irritability, poor memory, loss of appetite, and weight loss. As it progresses, more severe neurological or cardiovascular symptoms may appear.

While inadequate diet is the primary cause, beriberi can also be triggered by other factors. These include alcoholism, certain medical conditions affecting nutrient absorption (like bariatric surgery or chronic diarrhea), and specific genetic conditions.

To get enough thiamine, incorporate a variety of foods into your diet. Good sources include brown rice, legumes, nuts, seeds, pork, fish, and thiamine-fortified cereals and bread.