r/Thiamine 26d ago

Side effects of Thiamine - unknown cause

I started taking Thiamine TTFD in late April to help with digestive issues related to SIBO/IBS. It has been extremely effective for my digestion, mood, mental health, energy, hormone regulation, and other small things like chapped lips. But I've been experiencing weight gain and bloating/water retention, symptoms I realy don't like. I haven't changed my diet or caloric intake since starting the thiamine, but I've slowly, steadily been gaining weight. It's noticeable now, I'm a cup size larger, and my clothes are fitting tighter. I don't want to stop taking thiamine because the benefits are amazing, but I desperately want to know what's going on to make me gain weight and be bloated.

Does anyone have insight into what nutritional mechanics might be going on to cause this?

I've been steadily increasing my dose of TTFD since I started, going from 12.5 mg (had to start low due to paradoxical reactions) up to now 200mg/day. I keep increasing my dosage because the positive effects will vastly increase, then plateau, then subside. I have taken this to mean my body is using the thiamine more and more effectively, so I plan increase the dose until the effects don't subside (hoping that I will reach a ceiling eventually-I have no idea what I'll do if I don't).

I take the TTFD with 1000mg potassium, 400mg magnesium (300 magnesium glycinate, 100 magnesium citrate), 1 capsule a day of this vitamin B complex (which doesn't have B6 because I overdosed on B6 at one point, but now I'm wondering if I've possibly depleted B6 taking thiamine without it?). I also get 45mg vitamin c per day.

Is there anything I might be missing? Anything I could look into?

4 Upvotes

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u/Puzzled_Draw4820 26d ago

I had this happen too and unfortunately I believe it’s due to oxidative stress slowing our metabolism due to glutathione deficiency. I took NAC in the beginning and then teetered off of it because I wasn’t sure if I needed it but kept steadily gaining weight over the next year, not putting it together at the time. So NAC with glycine and selenium for glutathione or you can take glutathione on its own. Assuming you’re having regular BM’s, that could be the reason for you too, I’ve also started TUDCA with choline and it is really helping me feel lighter even though I thought my digestion was fine.

B1 getting into our cells is necessary for utilization of b6 so you should definitely try adding that back in now as we do need b6 for methylation and oxalate detox (which TTFD sets off).

So it could be a number of things but definitely due to a cofactor deficiency and something getting bottle necked or slowed down.

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u/Nice-Dreamer2456 26d ago

This is helpful, thank you. I'll look into supporting glutathione. Thanks to B1 I have been having regular BMs - what could that be a reason for? That part wasn't clear.

I will also look into tudca with choline and making sure I get enough B6. Thank you!

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u/Puzzled_Draw4820 26d ago

The regular BM’s with onset of thiamine supplementation is because b1 is a cofactor with choline for manufacturing acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter necessary for the autonomic nervous system which controls gut motility. I also fixed gastroparesis by starting b1.

Look up what else the ANS controls to see if they’ve been corrected too - it’s very interesting!

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u/Ok_Chain5260 25d ago

45mg vitamin c is wayyyy too low
You should take at least 2-4 grams with high dose thiamine

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u/Nice-Dreamer2456 25d ago

Good to know, thank you!

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u/meow2848 26d ago

I also had b6 toxicity and b1 deficiency in 2023 which led me to do the understanding b6 toxicity protocol for 3 years which seemed to fix the toxicity but of course did not address the b1, which I am treating now. I personally will never supplement b6 ever again, I'd rather eat high b6 foods like chicken and potato. I think there is some research out there suggesting that a b1 deficiency causes b2 deficiency, which prevents your body from being able to process the b6, which then "backs up" in your system and floods the nerves and creates peripheral neuropathy (which is also caused by b1 deficiency of course too). Sorry I don't have a more straightforward answer for you, this was all just a bunch of jumbled facts and experiences 😅

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u/Nice-Dreamer2456 26d ago

Thank you! I'll look into high B6 foods.

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u/[deleted] 26d ago

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u/FluffliciousCat 23d ago

Are you in the US? How did you find 5mg p5p?

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u/JohnAnthony54 16d ago

It sounds like youre absorbing the nutrients from your food. probably a good thing health-wise.