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Benfotiamine For Neuropathy: Research, Benefits

& Dosage
 May 16, 2018 (https://www.salubrainous.com/benfotiamine-for-neuropathy/)  Preetika Banerjee (BSc

Biotech, MS) (https://www.salubrainous.com/author/preetika-banerjee/)  4 Comments

(https://www.salubrainous.com/benfotiamine-for-neuropathy/#comments)

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What is Benfotiamine | How it works | Research | Dosage | Side Effects &

Precautions | Suggested Products | Conclusion

Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine is an essential human dietary nutrient. This is
due to the important role it plays in energy metabolism.

One of the derivatives of Vitamin B1 is the compound, benfotiamine. What

differentiates it from regular thiamine is the presence of a Sulphur- acyl group.

Research has found that benfotiamine helps in peripheral neuropathy by relieving

nerve pain. It reduces oxidative damage that adversely affects nerve function. Also, it
may help rectify nutrient deficiencies ( in this case Vitamin B1) which result in
restoration of nerve function in neuropathy.

What is Benfotiamine?
It has a better bioavailability than vitamin B1, approximately five times better
absorbed in the body than B1. Benfotiamine is a fat-soluble version of thiamine which
is water soluble.

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It is different from sulbutiamine which has two thiamine molecules. Allithiamine is the
natural fat-soluble thiamine derivatives that are found in garlic.

Based on these compounds several analogues have been created that have better
absorption than B1 and hence are referred to as members of allithiamine group, but
researchers state this may not be the correct denomination for them. (BMC
Pharmacology, 2008) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2435522/)

Benfotiamine helps modulate concentrations of advanced glycation end products

(AGEs). AGEs are produced when fats and proteins are exposed to sugar molecules.

High levels of AGEs are often associated with diabetes-related complications. They
are produced as a result of defective glucose metabolism. They are the causative
agents of inflammatory problems and oxidative stress conditions in diabetes which in
turn can result in nerve damage.

Benfotiamine activates antioxidant enzymes and reduces AGEs. This aids in

treatment of diabetic neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy. (Pharmacological
Research,2010) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20188835)

How Benfotiamine Helps In Peripheral

Neuropathy?
Here are a few ways by which benfotiamine acts to relieve neuropathy symptoms
and neuropathic pain:

• By rectifying Vitamin B1 deficiency

• Improving nerve function
• Reducing oxidative stress, especially in diabetic neuropathy
• Reducing inflammation
• Lowering nerve pain

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• Increasing efficacy of conventional neuropathy medications

Benfotiamine For Peripheral Neuropathy:

Evidence-Based Benefits
Let’s go over the research studies that have reported the benefits of benfotiamine for
nerve pain and neuropathy.

1. Benfotiamine lowers nerve pain in Diabetic

neuropathy
As I mentioned previously, the formation of advanced glycation end products
contributes to the development of diabetic complications.

Benfotiamine administration increases the cellular levels of thiamine phosphate

which activates an enzyme named transketolase.
The enzyme breaks down advanced glycation end products to relieve nerve damage
and other organ damage in diabetes.

In 2001, Stracke and colleagues carried out an interesting study

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11571671) in an animal model of diabetic
neuropathy. They examined the effects of both benfotiamine and thiamine. It was

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seen that benfotiamine administration resulted in enhanced nerve function and

lowered oxidative damage. Its potency was found to be higher than even regular
thiamine.

The positive results from this study prompted further research in this area. Scientists
discovered that benfotiamine offered numerous benefits in diabetes
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18220605). It could reverse nerve damage
brought about by thiamine deficiency through repair of biochemical pathways.

Namely, it prevents activation of protein kinase C, activation of the hexosamine

pathway and increased glycation. Reduced glycation lowers oxidative stress. It also
normalises cholesterol and triglyceride concentration.

Assessment of the optimum dosage of benfotiamine for diabetic neuropathy revealed

that higher concentrations of the compound are preferable.

In an extensive human trial (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10219465),

varying doses of benfotiamine were provided to diabetic neuropathy patients, and
their effects were analysed through certain key parameters: nerve pain sensation, the
vibration and the current perception threshold. Results showed that high doses, 320
mg benfotiamine/day helped reduce neuropathy symptoms within 3 weeks.

Both short-term and prolonged administration of the compound has shown no

adverse effects.

In research (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15726875) studies

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8886748), benfotiamine is proven to improve
nerve conduction velocity and relieve symptoms of diabetic neuropathy within three
weeks to nine months. The BENDIP study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
/18473286) confirmed that 600mg of benfotiamine per day for 6 weeks significantly
lowers nerve pain in diabetic polyneuropathy.

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Even in a recent case of acute painful neuropathy (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

/pubmed/27437321) in a 12-year-old girl affected by type 1 diabetes, benfotiamine
use, in addition to conventional medicines, showed great potency in nerve pain
reduction and nerve damage reversal.

The patient recovered completely post nine months of the administration. This shows
how benfotiamine can be applied in the treatment of complicated diabetes cases as
well.

Quick Gist: Benfotiamine offers several benefits concerning diabetic

neuropathy. Through its antioxidant activity, it relieves nerve damage. Doses
of around 320mg daily show the best results for nerve pain relief. The
compound is safe for use over long periods of time and shows potency even
in complicated cases.

2. It can benefit in alcoholic neuropathy

One of the potential harms of long-term alcoholism is the development of neuropathy.
This occurs when essential nutrients such as Vitamin B12 become unavailable to the
body’s cells due to a disturbance in the pathways controlling them.

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Vitamin B deficiencies in alcoholism (https://www.salubrainous.com/causes-vitaminb-

deficiency-alcoholism/) may manifest as mood alterations and challenges in
movement.

Benfotiamine can protect neurons from alcohol damage through various different
modes. One of these involves relief of psychological distress.

Manzardo et al. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4550087/) studied

the effects of benfotiamine in groups of both men and women who suffer from lifetime
alcoholic severity. The recovery potentials in both groups were found to be so
beneficial that the compound is being considered as an adjuvant therapy for alcoholic
rehabilitation.

Another research study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11811123) on

individuals affected with alcoholic neuropathy revealed that benfotiamine
(300-450mg/day) could improve motor and sensory nerve function and reduce
neuropathy symptoms. It was found to be effective in individuals at even stage II-III
chronic alcoholism.

With positive neurophysiological data backing this study, further applications of

vitamin B1 for these conditions are likely to be developed.

Quick Gist: Benfotiamine offers benefits for alcohol-related neuropathy. It

relieves psychological and biological distress associated with the disorder and
restores nerve function.

3. Benfotiamine relieves nerve pain

Neuropathy is a severely painful and disabling condition. The analgesic capability of
benfotiamine for its treatment was highlighted through an animal model.

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Benfotiamine reduces nerve pain by acting on our endogeneous opoid receptors to

bring about anti-nociception. This means that the detection of a painful stimulus by
sensory neurons is blocked. (Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology and Diabetes,
2014) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24643695)

Benfotiamine also exerts antiallodynic and anti-inflammatory effects

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16359659). Allodynia is pain response to a
sensation that is not likely to cause pain in healthy individuals. Reduction of
inflammation brings about relief to the damaged nerve cells.

Benfotiamine increases the efficacy of conventional medicines prescribed for nerve

pain. Combinations with gabapentin and carbamazepine in animal models have
displayed positive results. (Methods & Findings In Experimental & Clinical
Pharmacology, 2008) (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18850044)

Quick Gist: There are several modes through which benfotiamine helps
reduce pain caused by neuropathy. It blocks detection of the stimulus by
sensory neurons, it inhibits pain sensations and relieves inflammation. It can
be combined with conventional medications for neuropathic pain like
gabapentin and carbamazepine for better pain relief.

4. It can lower inflammation and oxidative stress in

neuropathy
Processes involving inflammation and oxidative stress in the body are interlinked,
and these processes also participate in nerve damage in peripheral neuropathy.

A group of cells called microglial cells are responsible for modulating immune
responses of the central nervous systems. Their concentration regulates neural
homeostasis, injury and repair. An increased concentration of microglial cells leads to

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neurodegeneration.

A study published in PLoS One, 2015 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

/25695433) illustrated the mechanisms through which benfotiamine could counter
inflammation brought about by microglial cells.

It brought down the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as the inducible

form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and NO; cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), heat-shock
protein 70 (Hsp70), tumour necrosis factor alpha α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).

Simultaneously, it increased anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (IL-10) production

thereby bringing down inflammation.

Advanced glycation end products are products formed when proteins and fats are
exposed to sugar compounds and they cause oxidative damage. They are
responsible for progression of diabetes related complications like diabetic
neuropathy.

One of the harms posed by the presence of AGEs is an accumulation of reactive

oxygen species which in turn contribute to the development of neuropathic pain.

Benfotiamine exerts an antioxidant action (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

/18384109) by reducing accumulation of such reactive oxygen species and lowering
oxidative stress. It can reduce oxidative DNA damage.

Quick Gist: Benfotiamine works as a strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant

agent. Therefore, it is useful in reducing factors that cause nerve pain.

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Dosage of Benfotiamine For Peripheral

Neuropathy
The dose of benfotiamine for peripheral neuropathy used in studies
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10219465) ranges from 150-600mg per day
(in divided doses). A dose of 300-400 mg benfotiamine per day is found to be
effective for relieving nerve pain (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18473286).

It can be combined with B vitamins (https://www.salubrainous.com/vitamin-b-benefits-

for-neuropathy/) and resveratrol which also benefit in neuropathy
(https://www.salubrainous.com/resveratrol-for-neuropathy/).

You can obtain vitamin B1 from food as well. This can be through consumption of
beef, liver, milk, nuts, oats, oranges, pork, eggs, seeds, legumes, peas and yeast.
Other food sources of thiamine include rice, pasta, bread and cereals.

Note: The symptoms and severity of peripheral neuropathy differ with every
individual. This may influence the use or efficacy of dietary supplements, herbs and
alternative treatment for the disorder. Please consult a health practitioner before
taking any supplements or alternative treatment.

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Side Effects & Precautions with

Benfotiamine Use
There has been no scientific evidence indicating the side effects of benfotiamine use.

Prolonged use may cause nausea; consider cycling the supplement when necessary.

Please consult your health practitioner before taking benfotiamine supplements

especially in case of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

Suggested Benfotiamine Supplement for

Peripheral Neuropathy
Please consult your healthcare provider before taking any health supplements.
Please read the ingredient list before purchasing any supplement.

Benfotiamine can be taken alone or in combination with B complex vitamins (listed

below).

Thorne Research B-Complex #12 Doctor’s Best Benfotiamine with

Benfopure

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Benfotiamine For Neuropathy: Research, Benefits & Dosage
Image Credit: Thorne Research, Inc.
It contains all B complex vitamins in a
bioavailable form with an extra dose of
vitamin B12.
They are allergen free and vegetarian
capsules.
Purchase from Amazon (http://geni.us
/4ksI9Q)
Purchase from iHerb (https://prf.hn
/click/camref:1011l464f
/destination:https://in.iherb.com
/pr/Thorne-Research-B-Complex-
12-60-Veggie-Caps/18126)
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https://www.salubrainous.com/benfotiamine-for-neuropathy/
Image Credit: Doctor’s Best, Inc.
It contains benfotiamine or Allithiamine
which is a garlic-derived soluble form
of vitamin B1.
It can be taken in combination with
vitamin B complex or alone.
They are gluten and soy free,
vegetarian capsules.
Purchase from Amazon (http://geni.us
/vlf6esA)
Purchase from iHerb (https://prf.hn
/click/camref:1011l464f
/destination:https://in.iherb.com
/pr/Doctor-s-Best-Benfotiamine-150-
with-BenfoPure-150-mg-120-Veggie-
Caps/42)
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Conclusion
Vitamin B1 and its derivative benfotiamine exert numerous positive effects for
neuropathy treatment. They work against pain, inflammation and oxidative stress.

Benfotiamine is beneficial for diabetic neuropathy and alcoholism-induced

neuropathy treatment. It helps relieve nerve pain. You can take it standalone or in
combination with other B complex vitamins.

If you have tried benfotiamine for neuropathy relief, please do leave a comment
below on what dose benefits you and what has your experience been with its use.

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4 thoughts on “Benfotiamine For

Neuropathy: Research, Benefits & Dosage”

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Benfotiamine For Neuropathy: Research, Benefits & Dosage https://www.salubrainous.com/benfotiamine-for-neuropathy/

Jacqueline Pettersen

August 31, 2018 at 9:07 am (https://www.salubrainous.com/benfotiamine-for-neuropathy

/#comment-689)

I am.not diabetic have normal glucose levels and have severe idiopathic peripheral
neuropathy in my lower extremities. I also have chronic Lyne disease with
confections including bartoa.
I also have high levels of lead toxicity. I have some narrowing in my spinal canal
which made cause some stenosis and also somebulging discs that may put pressure
on nerves to my lower extremities. Gaba Pentin, Lyrica and Horizant stopped working
for pain relief. Through experimentation and out of desperation for the past 8 months
I have taken for severe peripheral neuropathy in my lower extremities 7,200 mg. of
Benfotiamin a day, ( Doctor’s Best, four 300 mg. capsules or 1,200 mg every 4 hours
around the clock. This almost completely relieves all nerve pain!
In addition when not sufficiently effective I have used LED Red light and invisible
lights directly against the skin areas experiencing pain in combination with
benfotiamine. I am now adding Lion’s Mane, 3 capsules a day and Asawanganda to
see their effect. I am searching for a cure not just pain relief.

 Reply

Team Salubrainous

August 31, 2018 at 6:57 pm (https://www.salubrainous.com/benfotiamine-for-neuropathy

/#comment-696)

Hi Jacqueline. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your experience.

It might be relevant for you to note that both lead toxicity and Lyme’s disease
have been associated with the occurrence of neuropathy. So these factors could
be worsening the peripheral neuropathy.

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Based on anecdotal evidence and preclinical studies, lion’s mane mushroom

seems to be a good option for protecting the nervous system, supporting nerve
regeneration and modulating immune responses.
Ashwagandha is also a neuroprotective herb that could possibly help with pain
relief and reduce lead toxicity. Tulsi or holy basil also serves as a natural
chelator, antioxidant booster, and benefits in heavy metal toxicity.
Please do rule out the possibilities of vitamin deficiencies that could would
worsen nerve health.

 Reply

DONARD GRIDLEY (http://WWW.SALUBRAINOUS.COM/BENFOTIAMINE-

FOR-NEUROPATY/)

August 24, 2020 at 11:32 pm (https://www.salubrainous.com/benfotiamine-for-neuropathy

/#comment-5991)

CAN BENFOTIAINE BE USED WITH ALPHA-LIPIC ACID PLEASE REPLY

 Reply

Team Salubrainous

September 2, 2020 at 5:22 pm (https://www.salubrainous.com/benfotiamine-for-neuropathy

/#comment-6026)

Hi. It is safe to take Vitamin B supplements like benfotiamine with Alpha Lipoic
Acid. Most research suggests that both these agents can be beneficial for
treatment of neuropathic pain especially in diabetic neuropathy.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17593238/ (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
/17593238/)

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However, it is advisable to consult your doctor before taking any supplements.

 Reply

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