This post explores why high dose thiamine therapy can offer symptom relief from some persons diagnosed with Parkinsons.The good news of the day is that there may well be a simple solution to debilitating symptoms of Parkinsons for some individuals.
Some medical professionals endorse high dose thiamine therapy as a treatment for Parkinsons. Studies have reported that Thiamine (which is the technical term for Vitamin B1) tends to be deficient in persons experiencing neurological symptoms. The deficiency in part is due drug depletions from certain medications used to treat Parkinsons.
Beriberi is a disease of the nervous system which is also due to
a deficiency of Thiamine (Vitamin B1). Thiamine is needed to
breakdown food into glucose. It is also found in neural tissues.
Some people with Parkinsons celebrate a welcome improvement in symptoms after getting high dose B1 therapy from their doctor. Others have not.
The original source that recommended high dose B1 therapy is Dr. Anthony Costontini. You can listen to my interview with him here where he details his reasons for recommending this simple treatment.
https://www.blog.parkinsonsrecovery.com/high-dose-thiamine-for-parkinsons-disease/
How can you know whether high dose B1 therapy might be helpful for you? A good clue is whether you experience the symptoms associated with Beriberi disease which are similar to some of the symptoms of Parkinsons.
Beriberi Symptoms of the Nervous System
- Tingling or loss of feeling in the hands and feet
- Muscle weakness and pain in the legs
- Difficulty walking or loss of balance and coordination
- Lower leg paralysis or foot drop
Do you experience any of the symptoms above? If so, high dose thiamine therapy might just provide the relief you seek. I suspect this is why some people celebrate such welcome relief because they are deficient in vitamin B1. Consider discussing this treatment option with your doctor.
Research on B1 Deficiencies and Beriberi Disease
Curr Nutr Rep. 2026 Jan 29;15(1):8. B Vitamin Deficiencies and Associated Neuropathies
Abstract
Purpose of review: This review examines both historical and recent evidence to clarify the current understanding of the relationship between B vitamin deficiencies and neuropathies.
Recent findings: Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency can lead to neurological disorders such as beriberi and Wernicke’s encephalopathy, conditions with significant prevalence and mortality rates. Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) is crucial for DNA synthesis, fatty acid metabolism, and myelin production, with its deficiency leading to neuropathies and cognitive disorders. Excess vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), rather than deficiency, appears to be associated with neuropathy.
Takeaways/conclusions: Vitamin B1 and B12 deficiencies are linked to classic neuropathies, while the connection between vitamin B6 deficiency and neuropathy is less clear, though excess B6 is associated with neurotoxicity. Nutritional deficiencies are less common in developed countries but remain significant in developing nations. In developed countries, factors like alcohol consumption, bariatric surgery, and metformin use are increasing these deficiencies in clinical practice.
Med Princ Pract. 2026;35(1):18-24. An Overview of Beriberi
Abstract
Beriberi is a nutritional disorder caused by thiamine deficiency. Classically, Beriberi presents in two primary clinical forms: “wet” Beriberi, which features heart and circulatory system impairment, and “dry” Beriberi, which causes polyneuropathy.
Polyneuropathy is damage to peripheral nerves which are located outside your brain and spinal cord. The condition usually starts in the feet and hand and causes numbness, tingling, and weakness.
Although it is an easily treatable condition, it is often misdiagnosed and can be life-threatening if not promptly recognized and managed. The diagnosis of Beriberi is performed by the signs and symptoms of the disease and can be confirmed by thiamine deficiency identification or by therapeutic testing.
Immediate thiamine administration in the presence of clinical manifestations of the disease is recommended. Overall, 100-300 mg daily doses are enough to improve symptoms.
Robert Rodgers Phd
Founder 2004
Parkinsons Recovery®
Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease









