#VitaminB1

A long-standing scientific debate has finally been resolved. Researchers have confirmed a “crazy” theory from 1958 about vitamin B1, or thiamine. By stabilizing an extremely reactive carbene intermediate in water, they observed a stable form long thought impossible. The breakthrough, published in Science Advances, signals new possibilities for sustainable chemical manufacturing worldwide, including in Thailand.

The idea dates back to Ronald Breslow at Columbia University, who proposed that vitamin B1 forms a fleeting carbene-like species during essential cellular reactions. Carbenes are notoriously unstable in water, the solvent of life, which kept the theory unproven for decades. Breslow’s concept seemed almost magical to many scientists.

In a scientific breakthrough decades in the making, researchers have finally confirmed a “crazy” theory dating back to 1958 involving vitamin B1, or thiamine. By successfully stabilizing an extremely reactive molecule known as a carbene in water—something scientists long believed to be impossible—this team has not only resolved a long-standing biochemical debate but also unlocked new possibilities for sustainable chemical manufacturing around the world, including Thailand. Their results, published in Science Advances on April 11, 2025, have sparked fresh excitement in both academic and industrial laboratories worldwide (SciTechDaily).

In a major development that could transform both medicine and nutrition science, a team of chemists has successfully confirmed a decades-old theory regarding vitamin B1 (thiamine) — a feat once considered impossible. Their findings, detailed in recent reports, promise to sharpen understanding of how this vital nutrient functions at the molecular level, potentially opening new avenues for treating diseases and improving public health policy worldwide.

The breakthrough centers on the molecular mechanisms underpinning the biological activity of vitamin B1, a nutrient essential for nerve, muscle, and heart function. For years, scientists suspected that thiamine played a more sophisticated role within the body’s metabolic processes than previously confirmed, but technical barriers made it nearly impossible to observe and verify those processes in detail. The research team, leveraging advanced analytical techniques and state-of-the-art laboratory tools, have now provided the first direct evidence that supports these long-standing theories, upending conventional wisdom and energizing researchers around the globe.

A team of chemists has confirmed a decades-old theory about vitamin B1 (thiamine), a finding that could reshape medicine and nutrition science. The study, described in recent reports, offers deeper insight into how thiamine functions at the molecular level and may lead to improved treatments and smarter public health strategies.

The research centers on the molecular mechanisms behind thiamine’s biological activity, a nutrient crucial for nerve, muscle, and heart function. For years, scientists suspected thiamine plays a more complex role in metabolism than previously proven, but technical barriers limited confirmation. Using advanced analytical methods and modern lab techniques, researchers now present direct evidence supporting these long-held ideas, challenging established beliefs and energizing researchers worldwide.

A historic breakthrough confirms a 67-year-old hypothesis about vitamin B1, or thiamine, revealing new details about how this essential nutrient operates in the body. The finding not only resolves a long-standing scientific debate but also opens possibilities for eco-friendly chemical production with potential benefits for health, industry, and the environment.

The discovery traces back to 1958, when a Columbia University chemist proposed that thiamine’s metabolic actions might involve a reactive structure called a carbene. Carbenes are usually unstable in water-based environments, making such a mechanism seem unlikely for biological processes. The idea faced skepticism for decades until a UC Riverside-led team demonstrated otherwise by stabilizing a carbene in water. This achievement paved the way for observing the molecule’s composition with high-resolution imaging, marking the first verified instance of a stable carbene in aqueous conditions.

In a historic breakthrough, scientists have finally confirmed a 67-year-old hypothesis about vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, radically advancing our understanding of how this crucial vitamin works in the human body. This finding not only settles a decades-old scientific debate but also unlocks new possibilities for eco-friendly chemical production, with potential impact reaching far beyond the laboratory.

The story of this discovery begins in 1958, when a chemist from Columbia University theorized that vitamin B1 might perform its vital metabolic functions through the formation of an elusive molecular structure called a carbene. Carbenes are notoriously unstable and tend to decompose instantly in aqueous (water-based) environments like the human body, making the hypothesis seem improbable for more than half a century. For years, the idea was dismissed as “crazy,” as quoted by Vincent Lavallo, a chemist at the University of California, Riverside, who led the recent research that validated this bold proposal.