Benfotiamine

Benfotiamine prevents complications of neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy by inhibiting the build-up of glucose in the vessels. This means that the occurrence of diabetic complications might be slowed or prevented.

Benfotiamine is a man-made form of thiamine or B1. Thiamine is a water-soluble vitamin and therefore not as easily used by the body. Benfotiamine is a fat-soluble composition and is better absorbed and utilized. There has been some evidence that benfotiamine may help relieve the severity of diabetic complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy.

Most diabetes complications are caused by prolonged hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) due to poorly controlled blood glucose or to disease progression over time. The excess glucose in the blood is deposited in nerve cells and small blood vessels of the extremities, causing damage in these areas which result in signs and symptoms of complications.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to Saw Palmetto, or have certain conditions. Be sure your doctor knows if you have:

• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder (such as hemophilia);
• stomach ulcer with active bleeding; or
• ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

• liver disease;
• heart disease;
• a heart rhythm disorder;
• a history of stomach ulcer; or
• asthma or other breathing disorder.

No side effects attributable to Benfotiamine were observed.

A clinical study that appeared in the ADA journal Diabetes in 2003 showed that high-dose thiamine and benfotiamine seemed to prevent microalbuminuria and proteinuria (protein in urine) in diabetic rats. Studies done on people have shown that benfotiamine appears to also relieve neuropathic pain.