Share ConsumerLab.com's information with family and friends — or just send to yourself. Simply provide an email address below.
You must provide a valid email address.
Your email address*:
Your name*: Send me a copy
Email Address where it's going*:
*Addresses and name will only be used for sending this message.
Additional message (optional):
Your message has been sent. Thanks for sharing!
ConsumerLab.com Answers
Benfotiamine & Diabetes
Question: What is benfotiamine and can it really improve or prevent complications from diabetes?
Answer: Benfotiamine is a derivative of thiamin (vitamin B-1) which may be more effective at raising thiamine levels in the body. There is preliminary evidence that benfotiamine may be helpful to people with diabetes. For more details, see the information about benfotiamine in the B Vitamins Supplements Review >>
My mother is in her upper 80s and has Type-2 diabetes. For a year or two, she was getting neuropathy in her feet that caused so much pain, she could hardly walk without assistance. Her doctor had her try benfotiamine, and after a few days or so, she found substantial improvement, and there were no unwanted side effects. She is thrilled to be able to walk without any more pain. The doctor started her on 150 mg twice a day for the first month, and now she is on 100 mg twice a day, still with good effects.
A study team led by Dr. Michael Brownlee at Albert Einstein Medical College won the Bantung prize in 2005. The study was funded by Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Dr. Brownlee described it as a pilot study. It was, however, elegantly designed with a scholarly foundation in earlier studies with animals. This study was coducted with Type I diabetes humans. The purpose was to test interventions to normalize the 4 identified biochemical pathways involved in the complications of Diabetes.One pathway was completely normalized others were markedly more normalized. There were zero adverse reactions. The interventions involved only timed release Alpha Lipoic Acid and Benfotiamine. Each of these substances have a long history of evidence for other health benefits. Thiamine had been shown to protect epithelium lining in blood vessels. However, as it is water soluble, it doesn't stay in the system long enough to make a practical difference. Some years ago, scientists in Japan developed the lipid form as benfotiamine which has practical vascular benefits.
With low cost and excellent safety profile, it's a no brainer for any Diabetes patient to try on this treatment. However, an entire issue of a Diabetes consumer magazine devoted to addressing complications reviewed a number of prescription meds, all of which come with serious "side effects," with no mention of this JDRF study. The study was also reported in the journal Diabetalogia.
I now drink only organic milk: Horizon organic w/DHA Omega 3 whole milk. It's expensive as I drink a lot of it. It says on the label that it has 35% of Ca and 30% of D. Am I getting enough or too much Ca and D3 as I supplement the milk with 400 Ca and 500 D3 in a CVS (recommended) Citric vitamin.
On words such as this "benfotiamine" it would be helpful to me if you would pronounce it, i.e., ben-fo- ... since I don't know how to pronounce it, I can't relate it to anyone I'm trying to help. Thank you so much for your consideration.
Also, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you a million fold for your epublication. There is so much information I can't get to it all in the time allotted me on this shared computer. Your site is the best thing that's happened to me in a long time. I used to rely on the "Nutrition Almanac" but your site is so up-to-date and new and honest, I don't know what to say. Thank you.
If you have joint problems (osteo-arthritis), you may experience a worsening of the pain before it gets better. It may be so bad, you'll stick with what works well for you now.
Share your thoughts and comments about this topic in the space below. Please abide by the following rules:
If you make a statement of fact, such as whether a type of treatment does or does not work, state your basis -- such as personal experience or a published study.
If you make a positive or negative comment about a product, note whether or not you have a financial interest in the product or in a competing product.
Please be respectful in your tone.
Please do not submit any type of HTML markup or scripting as it will not be accepted, nor will comments that exceed 2,500 characters.
For your privacy, only your first name (from your account) followed by a random number will appear with your comment. Your last name and email address will not be displayed.
Comment:
Share your thoughts and comments about this topic in the space below. Please abide by the following rules:
If you make a statement of fact, such as whether a type of treatment does or does not work, state your basis -- such as personal experience or a published study.
If you make a positive or negative comment about a product, note whether or not you have a financial interest in the product or in a competing product.
Please be respectful in your tone.
Please do not submit any type of HTML markup or scripting as it will not be accepted, nor will comments that exceed 2,500 characters.
For your privacy, only your first name (from your account) followed by a random number will appear with your comment. Your last name and email address will not be displayed.
Comment:
You can modify your comment below. Please be aware the comment will have to approve the changes before they will be shown:
Comment:
Your edit has been submitted and is being reviewed by ConsumerLab.com prior to publication.
This CL Answer initially posted on 8/20/2014.
Last updated 8/8/2017.
ConsumerLab.com members may submit questions to CLAnswers@ConsumerLab.com. We read all questions and try to answer those of popular interest.
Sign up for FREE Newsletter
BECOME A MEMBER
Instant Access to Reviews for OVER 1,000 Products!