Is Your Gut Missing B1? The Overlooked Link Between Thiamine and Digestive Health

Probiotics Aren’t the Only Gut Heroes

We’ve all heard it before: “Take probiotics to support your gut.” This advice isn’t wrong, in fact, our most recent blogs have touched on the importance of probiotic supplements. But what if there is a missing piece? What if your digestive issues—like occasional bloating, sluggish motility, or even occasional nausea, aren’t just about your gut bacteria, but about something as basic as a vitamin deficiency? Specifically, a lack of vitamin B1 (thiamine) could be quietly disrupting your digestion, and most people have no idea.

The Science: What the Study Found

A recent review published in Frontiers in Nutrition highlights a surprising connection between vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency and gut dysfunction. Researchers found that thiamine plays a critical role in the health of the enteric nervous system, often called the “second brain” of the body. This system controls how your digestive tract moves, secretes enzymes, and absorbs nutrients. Thiamine helps regulate this process through a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, which is essential for gut motility.

When thiamine is low, this signaling can break down, leading to symptoms like constipation, nausea, bloating, and slowed digestion, even when your diet seems “healthy.”

And here’s the kicker: B1 deficiency isn’t limited to malnourished individuals. It can show up due to chronic stress, alcohol intake, certain medications, poor absorption, or restrictive diets. That means many people may be experiencing gut issues without realizing thiamine could be the missing link.1

Why This Matters

When people struggle with occasional constipation, occasional bloating, or sluggish digestion, they often jump straight to probiotics or fiber. Rarely do they think, "Could this be a vitamin issue?" But it could be.

Thiamine plays a key role in how your digestive system functions, particularly in stimulating movement through the gut. When it’s low, your enteric nervous system,the gut’s built-in command center, can’t communicate properly. That’s when motility slows, nausea kicks in, or food just doesn’t seem to digest as it should.

And thiamine isn’t the only B vitamin your gut relies on. Other members of the B-complex family—like B2, B3, B6, B12, and folate—help power your metabolism, support your gut lining, and even influence your microbiome. Together, they act as a foundation for a well-functioning digestive system. That’s why covering your bases with a complete B-complex supplement can be a game-changer for gut health, not just energy or stress.

Daily B to the Rescue

If you’re dealing with sluggish digestion, low energy, or just feel like your gut isn’t operating at 100%, your body might be asking for more than just probiotics. That’s where Daily B comes in.

Daily B is our full-spectrum B-complex formula, designed to replenish the essential B vitamins your body depends on daily—including thiamine (B1). Whether you're under chronic stress, healing your gut, or just looking to optimize your energy and digestion, Daily B provides targeted support where it counts.

We’ve heard stories from customers like Tshana, who said:
"I bought the Redwood & Daily B for my husband. He as been taking these for about 2 months. He said in about a wk or 2 he started to feel different like full of energy, he's going to the bathroom more frequently without any issues, he has more than enough energy to go to work and push through the day. He's more in a good mood. These together for him work and we love it."

Because here’s the thing—when your body has the foundational nutrients it needs, everything works better. Gut health included.

Know Your Gut, Nourish It Right

If you’ve been doing all the right things for your gut, clean eating, probiotics, fiber, but still feel off, it might be time to look deeper. B vitamin deficiencies, especially thiamine, are often overlooked but can have a major impact on how your digestive system functions.

Don’t continue to accept the slow motility and occasional bloat. Consider adding a quality B-complex like Daily B to your routine, not as a replacement for probiotics, but as a powerful companion to them. Together, they can help restore balance from both sides: microbial and metabolic.

Because a well-fed gut is a happy gut, and a happy gut means a happier you.