Description
Thiamine Hcl is the hydrochloride salt form of thiamine (vitamin B1), a vitamin essential for aerobic metabolism, cell growth, transmission of nerve impulses and acetylcholine synthesis. Vitamin B1 helps prevent various health problems including heart damage. Thiamine Hcl is a white or almost white, crystalline powder or colorless crystals. It has an odor slightly reminiscent of thiazole and a bitter taste. Very soluble in water (1g dissolved in 1mL of water at 20℃), slightly soluble in ethanol, and insoluble in ether, benzene, chloroform, and acetone. The oxidation-reduction reaction can cause it to lose activity. When exposed to air, the vitamin rapidly absorbs about 4% of water.
Uses
Thiamine Hcl is used to prevent and treat thiamine deficiency states, which may occur as a result of inadequate nutrition or intestinal malabsorption. It is also used for the treatment of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, beriberi and thiamine deficiency related to chronic alcoholism. Thiamine hydrochloride is used as a food additive to add brothy/meaty flavor to gravies or soups. It is used also as a food supplement and flavoring ingredient with a bitter taste.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Thiamine Hcl is the hydrochloride salt form of thiamine, a vitamin essential for aerobic metabolism, cell growth, transmission of nerve impulses and acetylcholine synthesis. Upon hydrolysis, Thiamine Hcl is phosphorylated by thiamine diphosphokinase to form active thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), also known as cocarboxylase. TPP is a coenzyme for many enzymatic activities involving fatty acid, amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism.
