What is Thiamine and how does it protect you?

Thiamine, more commonly known as vitamin B1, is one of the water-soluble vitamins found within the B vitamin complex. 

Thiamine is important to the proper breakdown of sugars and amino acids in the body and a thiamine deficiency can affect the peripheral nervous system and/or the cardiovascular system. 

Thiamine is one of the necessary compounds not synthesized within the body, thereby being classed as a vitamin, and must be obtained from the diet. 

It can be found in a variety of foods, but it is also quite common to take the B1 vitamin either separately or as part of a B-complex vitamin supplement.  Interestingly, thiamine has also been found to be an effective mosquito deterrent.

At any given time, the human body’s storage of thiamine is approximately 25 to 30 mg.  As this small amount of thiamine is stored primarily in muscle tissue, it is neither sufficient in quantity, nor in a suitable location, to deter mosquitoes, and additional thiamine must be made available. 

Studies looking at ingesting additional thiamine through vitamin B1 supplements have found no relationship between the thiamine ingested and mosquito deterrent properties.  This however is not unexpected. 

Thiamine swallowed in vitamin B1 tablet form is absorbed through the intestinal lining and excess thiamine is then easily excreted in urine, completely bypassing the skin and being unable to work as a mosquito deterrent. 

For thiamine to efficiently repel mosquitoes it must be present on the skin surface.  Thiamine excreted through pores via sweat gives off a faint odour detectable only to mosquitoes.  This scent works to repel mosquitoes. 

Although they may still land on the skin surface first, they will fly off again before biting.   

Ingesting enough thiamine to have it excreted both in urine and through sweat could lead to other potential side-effects as well; as it is not recommended to consume vitamin B1 in such quantities.  This is where trans-dermal patch technology comes into play.  

A trans-dermal patch is able to deliver a sufficient amount of thiamine directly into the skin layers and bloodstream to act as a mosquito repellent, but at dosages considered perfectly safe.  Dosages are comparable to those found in supplement tablets.  However as thiamine is administered to the skin via the patch, excess thiamine is not excreted in urine, but rather through the pores in the skin, forming a repellent film on the skin and actively deterring mosquitoes.

Thiamine is most effective as a mosquito repellent when a person is actively sweating as the greatest amount of thiamine is excreted at this time.  Higher levels of activity or very warm climates increase the repellent success of thiamine. 

Thiamine continues to work at lower activity levels or in cooler climates, however there may be a slight increase in the landing time, or the time that the mosquito is actually on the body before taking off again.

The length of time that each dose of thiamine is active depends on the metabolism of the individual.  In athletes, very active people, and children, those who have higher rates of metabolism, thiamine is excreted more quickly and will have a shorter duration of insect protection. 

Although the time of protection of thiamine for even those individuals with the highest metabolism is still greater than other forms of mosquito repellent.  Thiamine provides efficient mosquito bite protection for the entire family, whatever the activity.