What is the disease beriberi caused by?

November 19, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the World Health Organization, thiamine deficiency has been a historical public health concern and can still affect vulnerable populations globally. Knowing what the disease beriberi is caused by is crucial, as it stems from a severe deficiency of vitamin B1, known as thiamine.

Quick Summary

Beriberi is a disease resulting from a severe deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1), which affects the nervous and cardiovascular systems. It primarily occurs in populations with inadequate dietary intake, often due to heavy reliance on refined carbohydrates.

Key Points

Thiamine Deficiency: Beriberi is caused by a severe lack of thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, which is essential for energy metabolism.
Two Main Types: The disease appears as wet beriberi, which affects the heart, or dry beriberi, which damages the nervous system.
High-Risk Factors: Chronic alcoholism, poor dietary habits (like a diet high in processed rice), bariatric surgery, and certain medical conditions can lead to thiamine deficiency.
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome: A severe, chronic thiamine deficiency can cause irreversible brain damage, a condition known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
Treatment is Effective: Early treatment with thiamine supplements can reverse most symptoms and is administered orally for mild cases or intravenously for severe ones.
Prevention Through Diet: A balanced diet rich in thiamine-fortified foods like whole grains and nutrient-dense foods such as meat, beans, and seeds is key to prevention.

The Core Cause of Beriberi: Thiamine Deficiency

Beriberi is a medical condition fundamentally rooted in a severe deficiency of thiamine, or vitamin B1. Thiamine is an essential, water-soluble vitamin critical for converting carbohydrates into energy. When thiamine is deficient, nerve and heart cells, in particular, struggle to function properly.

How Thiamine Deficiency Develops

A poor diet is the most direct cause, but other factors contribute:

Dietary Habits: A major risk is a diet high in processed carbohydrates like polished white rice, which lack thiamine stripped away during refining.
Alcohol Misuse: Chronic alcohol abuse is a leading cause in developed nations. Alcohol hinders thiamine absorption and storage, and heavy drinkers often have poor diets.
Medical Conditions: Certain health issues increase risk, including hyperthyroidism, prolonged diarrhea, AIDS, and bariatric surgery.
Other Factors: Deficiencies can pass from mothers to infants with poor nutrition. Rare genetic conditions also affect absorption.

The Different Forms of Beriberi and Their Symptoms

The symptoms depend on the affected systems. Beriberi is generally dry or wet. Severe deficiency can also lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, especially with chronic alcoholism.

Wet Beriberi: The Cardiovascular Threat

This form primarily impacts the cardiovascular system, potentially leading to heart failure as the heart works harder due to lack of energy. Symptoms include a rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, and swelling in the legs and feet.

Dry Beriberi: The Neurological Impact

Dry beriberi affects the nervous system, causing nerve damage and muscle weakness often starting in the limbs. Symptoms include numbness and tingling, loss of muscle function or paralysis in legs, difficulty walking, pain, muscle cramps, and confusion.

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

This is a severe brain disorder from chronic thiamine deficiency, often linked to alcoholism. It has two stages:

Wernicke's Encephalopathy: Acute phase with confusion, involuntary eye movements, and coordination problems.
Korsakoff Psychosis: Chronic phase with severe recent memory loss and confabulation.

Comparison of Beriberi Types


Feature	Wet Beriberi	Dry Beriberi	Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Primary System Affected	Cardiovascular	Nervous	Brain/Nervous
Key Symptoms	Edema, tachycardia, shortness of breath, heart failure	Peripheral neuropathy, muscle weakness, confusion, pain	Confusion, memory loss, ataxia, involuntary eye movements
Symptom Onset	Can be rapid and acute	Gradual, over weeks or months	Often after long deficiency
Reversibility with Treatment	Often reversible with early treatment	Reversible if caught early	Often permanent brain damage
Primary Cause	Severe thiamine deficiency	Severe thiamine deficiency	Severe, chronic thiamine deficiency (most commonly with alcoholism)

Treatment and Prevention

Treatment involves restoring thiamine levels. Mild cases may use oral supplements and diet changes. Severe cases require immediate, high-dose intravenous thiamine. A multivitamin is often recommended due to common co-occurring deficiencies.

Prevention centers on a thiamine-rich diet. Fortifying staple foods has made beriberi rare in many developed countries. Good sources include:

Pork and fish
Beans and legumes
Nuts and seeds
Whole grains and enriched cereals
Vegetables like asparagus and spinach
Dairy products

Conclusion: The Importance of Thiamine

The disease beriberi is caused by a significant lack of thiamine (vitamin B1), vital for energy metabolism. It affects the heart (wet beriberi) or nervous system (dry beriberi). Chronic deficiency can cause irreversible brain damage (Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome). While less common due to food fortification, it remains a risk for those with poor diets, malabsorption issues, or chronic alcohol use. Early diagnosis and thiamine treatment offer the best recovery chance, highlighting the importance of proper nutrition.

For more detailed information on thiamine deficiency and its effects, consult this resource: Cleveland Clinic: Thiamine Deficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary cause of the disease beriberi is a severe deficiency of thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, in the body.

Diets consisting mainly of polished white rice or highly refined carbohydrates are a common cause of beriberi, as the processing removes most of the thiamine.

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to beriberi because it interferes with the body's ability to absorb and store thiamine, and it often accompanies a poor, low-nutrient diet.

Wet beriberi primarily affects the heart and circulatory system, causing symptoms like swelling and heart failure. Dry beriberi mainly damages the nerves, leading to muscle weakness and potential paralysis.

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a severe form of brain damage resulting from chronic thiamine deficiency, characterized by confusion, memory loss, and coordination problems.

Symptoms of wet beriberi include shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, and swelling (edema) in the lower legs.

Beriberi is treated with thiamine supplements, which can be administered orally for mild cases or intravenously for severe cases to restore vitamin B1 levels.