Most people think of tropical fruits or superfoods when someone mentions antioxidants, while countless vitamins have antioxidant and even anti-inflammatory qualities.  

In a randomized controlled trial published in 2022, researchers examined the effects of well-known vitamin B1 in women with gestational diabetes. 

Participants of the experiment were given 100 mg vitamin B1 every day, which is nearly a hundred times more than the recommended daily intake, but it’s a common amount in dietary supplements. As a result, two values signifying inflammation, CRP and malondialdehyde significantly decreased in their lab results.  

Increased CRP levels signal a heightened inflammation in the body, which can be the result of  an infection, smoking or excess weight, while malondialdehyde is a byproduct of lipid peroxidation, that shows the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The increased values of both indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and chronic illnesses.  

Moreover, vitamin B1 decreased the gene expression of another value,  TNF-α, which plays a significant role in the development of autoimmune diseases, among others.  

Based on the above, it can be stated that vitamin B1 supplementation greatly contributes to the improvement of the body’s antioxidant system, and its anti-inflammatory property can be beneficial in the treatment of various illnesses.