DefinitionBeriberi is a disease in which the body does not have enough thiamine (vitamin B1).Alternative NamesThiamine deficiency; Vitamin B1 deficiencyCauses, incidence, and risk factorsThere are two major types of beriberi:Wet beriberi affects the cardiovascular system.Dry beriberi and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndromeaffect the nervous system.Beriberi is rare in the United States because most foods are now vitamin enriched. If you eat a normal, healthy diet, you should get enough thiamine. Today, beriberi occurs mostly in patients who abuse alcohol. Drinking heavily can lead to poor nutrition, and excess alcohol makes it harder for the body to absorb and store thiamine.A rare condition known as genetic beriberi is inherited (passed down through families). People with genetic beriberi lose the