What can you say about thiamine (vitamin B1) in your ads and on your site?

The library supports 4 wordings for thiamine (vitamin B1); the strongest is “Supports normal energy-yielding metabolism” (strong, 0.17-100 mg a day). Avoid wording that names or implies a disease, a drug or a treatment, such as “Treats nerve damage (neuropathy), including diabetic neuropathy”.

Also called: Thiamin, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B-1

Reviewed 15 October 2026

Not legal advice. This guide shows the wording that published evidence supports at a daily dose, from the sources linked below; it is not a ruling on any claim. Your own product, its form and dose, and your own evidence still need to match the wording you use.

Supported wordings

What you can say.

Strong evidenceWording 1

Claims Facts

“Supports normal energy-yielding metabolism.”

Daily dose	0.17-100 mg a day
Support	Listed by Health Canada and authorized in the EU after EFSA review.
Dose details	Adults 19 and older. Health Canada: 0.07-100 mg a day. EU: at least 0.165 mg, 15% of the 1.1 mg EU reference value (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex XIII).
Form	Thiamine mononitrate or thiamine hydrochloride, counted as thiamine
Sources	Health Canada monograph: Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Supplements Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, list of permitted health claims

Strong evidenceWording 2

Claims Facts

“Supports normal function of the nervous system.”

Daily dose	0.17-100 mg a day
Support	Listed by Health Canada and authorized in the EU after EFSA review.
Dose details	Adults 19 and older. Health Canada: 0.07-100 mg a day. EU: at least 0.165 mg, 15% of the 1.1 mg EU reference value (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex XIII).
Form	Thiamine mononitrate or thiamine hydrochloride, counted as thiamine
Sources	Health Canada monograph: Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Supplements Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, list of permitted health claims

Moderate evidenceWording 3

Claims Facts

“Supports normal psychological function.”

Daily dose	at least 0.17 mg a day
Support	Authorized in the EU after EFSA review; Health Canada does not list it.
Dose details	EU: at least 0.165 mg, 15% of the 1.1 mg EU reference value (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex XIII). Health Canada does not list this use; its monograph gives 0.07-100 mg a day for adults.
Form	Thiamine mononitrate or thiamine hydrochloride, counted as thiamine
Source	Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, list of permitted health claims

Moderate evidenceWording 4

Claims Facts

“Supports normal heart function.”

Daily dose	at least 0.17 mg a day
Support	Authorized in the EU after EFSA review; Health Canada does not list it.
Dose details	EU: at least 0.165 mg, 15% of the 1.1 mg EU reference value (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex XIII). Health Canada does not list this use; its monograph gives 0.07-100 mg a day for adults.
Form	Thiamine mononitrate or thiamine hydrochloride, counted as thiamine
Source	Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, list of permitted health claims

How strong the evidence is

Strong evidence: At least two listed sources support it independently at a comparable dose and form, and none disagrees.
Moderate evidence: One listed source supports it as an evidence-based use at that dose, and no listed source disagrees.
Limited evidence: The only support is traditional use, the sources disagree, or the source itself calls the evidence weak.

Wordings to avoid

What to leave out.

Claims Facts

Ingredient: Thiamine (vitamin B1)

Wording to avoid	Reason
“Treats nerve damage (neuropathy), including diabetic neuropathy”Names diseases.	Disease
“Treats heart failure”Names a disease.	Disease

Disease: names or implies a disease. Drug: names a drug or presents the product as one. Treatment: promises to treat, cure or prevent a condition.

Sources

Where this comes from.

All ingredient guides

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