Submitted to:

Dr. G. M. Gadegaonkar Submitted by:

Dept. of Animal Nutrition Mohit Jain
M.V.Sc. 1st year
 Overview

 Introduction
 Chemical nature
 Functions/ metabolism
 Sources
 Deficiency symptoms
 Cause of deficiency
 References
 Eijkman established that a specific factor is responsible for ‘Bery- Bery’ in
human and polyneuritis in pigeons.
 After absorption from small intestine, it is phosphorylated in liver to thiamin
pyrophosphate (TPP).
 Chemical Nature
 Thiamin (vitamin B1) is a complex nitrogenous base containing a
pyrimidine ring joined to a thiazole ring. Because of the presence of a
hydroxyl group at the end of the side chain, thiamin can form esters.
 The main form of thiamin in animal tissues is the diphosphate ester,
commonly known as thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP).
 The vitamin is very soluble in water and is fairly stable in mildly acidic
solution but readily decomposes in neutral solutions.
 Metabolism

 Thiamin pyrophosphate (or thiamin diphosphate) is a coenzyme involved in

(1) the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate to acetyl coenzyme A.
(2) the oxidative decarboxylation of α -ketoglutarate to succinyl coenzyme A
in the TCA cycle.
(3) the pentose phosphate pathway (transketolase).
(4) the synthesis of branched-chain amino acids such as valine in bacteria,
yeasts and plants.
 Thiamin triphosphate is involved in the activation of the chloride ion channel
in the membranes of nerves, possibly by phosphorylation of the channel
protein.
 Sources

 Thiamin is widely distributed in foods.

 It is concentrated in the outer layers of seeds, the germ, and in the
growing areas of roots, leaves and shoots.
 Fermentation products, such as brewer’s yeast are rich sources.
 Animal products rich in thiamin include egg yolk, liver, kidney and pork
muscle.
 The synthetic vitamin is available, usually marketed as the hydrochloride.
 Deficiency symptoms

 Early signs of thiamin deficiency in most species include loss of appetite,

emaciation, muscular weakness and a progressive dysfunction of the
nervous system.
 Bradycardia, enlargement of heart, oedema, GIT disturbances, nervous
problems like convulsion, incoordination, etc.
 In pigs, appetite and growth are adversely affected and the animals may
vomit and have respiratory troubles.
 Ventroflexion of head in cats.
 Excess thiamin injection could cause anaphylactic shock.
 Cont.
Beriberi :- in humans
 Polneuritis in birds
 Peripheral neuritis

 Bird sits on his flexed legs

 Draws its head backward “Star grazer position”

 Cont.

Polioencephalomalacia :- in ruminants
 Also called as ‘cerebrocortical necrosis’
 Listlessness, circling, muscular incoordination
 Head pressing, blindness, convulsion, death
 Cause Of Deficiency
 Thiaminase is present in bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), and thiamin
deficiency symptoms have been reported in horses consuming this
material.
 Raw fish also contains the enzyme, which destroys the thiamin in foods
with which the fish is mixed.
 The activity of the thiaminase is, however, destroyed by cooking.
 Amprolium (a coccidiostat) decreases thiamin phosphorylation and
transport.
 Sulphate (gypsum) content of feed and water.
 High concentrate ,less roughage less microbial synthesis of thiamin.
 Inactivation of thiamin by preservative & SO2.