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Showing posts from January 7, 2016

Beriberi: Who is at risk and possible remedy

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What Is Beriberi? Beriberi is a disease caused by a vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency. There are two main types of the disease but four in all: wet beriberi and dry beriberi, infantile beriberi and gastrointestinal beriberi. Wet beriberi affects the heart and circulatory system. In extreme cases, wet beriberi can cause heart failure. Dry beriberi damages the nerves and can lead to a loss of muscle strength and eventually, muscle paralysis. Beriberi can be life-threatening if it isn’t treated. If you have access to foods rich in thiamine, such as beans, vegetables, meat, and whole grains, your chances of developing beriberi are low. Today, beriberi mostly occurs in people with an alcohol use disorder (alcoholism) What Causes Beriberi? Who Is at Risk? The main cause of beriberi is a diet low in thiamine. The disease is very rare in regions with access to vitamin-enriched foods (e.g., breakfast cereals and breads). Beriberi is most common in regions of the world where the diet includ