# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison Essential Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Zinc (Elemental Zn)

Comparing 2 standards across 9 specifications. 9 key differences identified.

Comparing:
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Zinc (Elemental Zn)
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) →

Vitamin B1 is a water-soluble pyrimidine/thiazole vitamin acting as the Thiamine Pyrophosphate (TPP) coenzyme in pyruvate dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, and transketolase. Adult RDA is 1.2 mg (men) / 1.1 mg (women) (no Upper Limit established).

View full Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) spec sheet →
Zinc (Elemental Zn) →

Zinc is an essential trace mineral serving as a structural component in over 2,000 transcription factor 'zinc finger' proteins and catalytic cofactor for 300+ enzymes. Adult RDA is 11mg (men) / 8mg (women), with a Tolerable Upper Limit of 40mg/day.

View full Zinc (Elemental Zn) spec sheet →

Specification Comparison Table

9 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Zinc (Elemental Zn)
Nutrient Type
Water-Soluble Thiazole Vitamin Essential Trace Mineral
Adult RDA / RDI
1.2 mg / day (Men) / 1.1 mg / day (Women) (+0.3mg during pregnancy) 11 mg / day (Men) / 8 mg / day (Women)
Tolerable Upper Limit (UL)
None Established (Rapid renal clearance of excess) 40 mg / day (Chronic excess induces copper deficiency)
Chemical Forms
Thiamine Monophosphate, Thiamine Pyrophosphate (TPP / TDP, active coenzyme), Benfotiamine (Lipid-soluble synthetic) Zinc Picolinate, Bisglycinate, Gluconate, Sulfate, Oxide
Primary Biological Function
Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (Links glycolysis to Krebs cycle), Transketolase (Pentose Phosphate Pathway), Myelin neurotransmission Zinc finger DNA transcription factors, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD1), Carbonic anhydrase, Testosterone synthesis, Phagocytosis
Deficiency Condition
Beriberi (Wet beriberi: high-output heart failure; Dry beriberi: peripheral neuropathy), Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome Impaired immunity, Hypogonadism, Delayed wound healing, Alopecia, Loss of taste/smell (Anosmia/Ageusia)
Top Whole Food Sources
Pork Tenderloin, Sunflower Seeds, Nutritional Yeast, Enriched Grains, Black Beans, Flaxseeds Eastern Oysters, Beef Chuck, Crab, Pumpkin Seeds, Hemp Hearts, Chickpeas
Thermolability & Alcohol Interaction
Degraded by alkaline pH and high heat cooking; alcohol blocks intestinal active ThTr-1 transport —
Copper Balance Warning
— High zinc stimulates intestinal metallothionein which binds copper, risking microcytic anemia if copper is unsupplemented

Other Alternatives to Compare

Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Calcium (Elemental Ca) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Iodine (Elemental I) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Iron (Heme & Non-Heme) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Magnesium (Elemental Mg) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Potassium (Elemental K) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Selenium (Elemental Se) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Sodium (Elemental Na) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Vitamin A (Retinol & Beta-Carotene) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Vitamin B3 (Niacin / Nicotinic Acid & Nicotinamide) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate / PLP) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Vitamin B7 (Biotin / Vitamin H) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Vitamin B9 (Folate & Folic Acid) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Vitamin E (d-Alpha-Tocopherol) → Compare Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) vs. Vitamin K1 (Phylloquinone) →