Thiamine Hydrochloride (vitamin B1)
<p>All living organisms use thiamine in their biochemistry, but it is only synthesized in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteria" title="Bacteria" >bacteria</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungi" title="Fungi" class="mw-redirect" >fungi</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant" title="Plant" >plants</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal" title="Animal" >Animals</a> must obtain it from their diet, and, thus, for them, it is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_nutrient" title="Essential nutrient" >essential nutrient</a>. Insufficient intake in birds produces a characteristic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyneuritis" title="Polyneuritis" class="mw-redirect" >polyneuritis</a>. In mammals, deficiency results in<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korsakoff%27s_syndrome" title="Korsakoff's syndrome" >Korsakoff's syndrome</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optic_neuropathy" title="Optic neuropathy" >optic neuropathy</a>, and a disease called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beriberi" title="Beriberi" >beriberi</a> that affects the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripheral_nervous_system" title="Peripheral nervous system" >peripheral nervous system</a> (polyneuritis) and/or the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiovascular_system" title="Cardiovascular system" class="mw-redirect" >cardiovascular system</a>. Thiamine deficiency has a potentially fatal outcome if it remains untreated.<sup id="cite_ref-Mahan_0-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiamin_hydrochloride#cite_note-Mahan-0" >[1]</a></sup> In less severe cases, nonspecific signs include <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaise" title="Malaise" >malaise</a>, weight loss, irritability and confusion.<sup id="cite_ref-Combs_1-0" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiamin_hydrochloride#cite_note-Combs-1" >[2]</a></sup></p>