6 Health Benefits of Benfotiamine + Mechanisms

Benfotiamine is a synthetic version of thiamine , also known as vitamin B1 , which is essential for many of the body’s functions including strengthening the immune system and protecting the brain. Research suggests benfotiamine may be especially useful for protecting the body from the harmful byproducts of too much sugar and improving symptoms of diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Keep reading to learn more about this supplement. What Is Benfotiamine? Benfotiamine is a fat-soluble derivative of thiamine (vitamin B1) that is more easily absorbed through digestion [ 1 ]. Benfotiamine is altered by gut enzymes (phosphatases) and then broken down into thiamine by red blood cells or in the liver [ 2 ]. In animal studies, taking a benfotiamine supplement increased blood levels of vitamin B1 five times as much as an equal dose of thiamine [ 3 , 4 ]. Mechanisms of Action Benfotiamine may work by: Activating the enzyme transketolase, a necessary part of the pentose phosphate pathway that turns sugars into sources of energy instead of harmful advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) [ 5 , 2 , 6 , 6 ] Changing the production of specific enzymes ( Nos3 , PKB/ Akt ) to increase cell regeneration and reduce cell death [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ] Altering how energy is used in cells to enhance healthy growth and suppress cancer development [ 11 , 7 , 12 ] Health Benefits of Benfotiamine Possibly Effective for: 1) Complications from Diabetes Although it increased both insulin levels and the breakdown of sugar for energy in animal and cell-based studies, the most promising benefit of benfotiamine in diabetics comes from its ability to block the production of the sugar byproducts that cause diabetic complications (advanced glycation end-products or AGEs) [ 17 , 5 , 18 ]. […]

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