Supplement
Benfotiamine is a fat-soluble form of vitamin B1, a nutrient cells use to turn food into energy. People mostly look at it for diabetic nerve problems, but the evidence is very limited: one study of 82 people found no clear difference in advanced glycation end products, a marker of sugar-related damage. Small studies of 63 to 67 people also found no clear difference in HbA1c, HDL or blood pressure.
Sources: PMID 22792314
- Updated
- How we grade
- 4 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade D
- Conditions studied
- 4
- Outcomes
- 16
- Graded outcomes
- 0006
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endogenous Advanced Glycation End Products No effect | NoneNo effect | 1 study | 82 people | |||
Studies that measured endogenous advanced glycation end products | ||||||
| Proteinuria | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 82 people | |||
Studies that measured proteinuria | ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endogenous Advanced Glycation End Products No effect | NoneNo effect | 1 study | 82 people | |||
Studies that measured endogenous advanced glycation end products | ||||||
| Proteinuria | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 82 people | |||
Studies that measured proteinuria | ||||||
Type 1 Diabetes
- HbA1c
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
- Nerve Repair: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HbA1c No effect | NoneNo effect | 67 people | ||||
| High-density lipoprotein (HDL) No effect | NoneNo effect | 67 people | ||||
| Nerve Repair | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 67 people | |||
| Inflammation | Changes; see studies | 67 people | ||||
| Total cholesterol | Changes; see studies | 67 people | ||||
Diabetic Nephropathy
- Blood Pressure
- HbA1c
- Proteinuria: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Pressure No effect | NoneNo effect | 63 people | ||||
| HbA1c No effect | NoneNo effect | 63 people | ||||
| Proteinuria | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 63 people | |||
Studies that measured proteinuria | ||||||
| High-density lipoprotein (HDL) | Improves (the measure goes up) | 63 people | ||||
| Kidney Function | Improves (the measure goes up) | 63 people | ||||
| Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) | Changes; see studies | 63 people | ||||
| Triglycerides | Changes; see studies | 63 people | ||||
Key findings
- Endogenous Advanced Glycation End Products
- HbA1c
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
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- Grade D
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Studies cited
4 studies from PubMed
- A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial on benfotiamine treatment in patients with diabetic nephropathy
- The effects of long-term oral benfotiamine supplementation on peripheral nerve function and inflammatory markers in patients with type 1 diabetes: a 24-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
- Effect of benfotiamine on advanced glycation endproducts and markers of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation in diabetic nephropathy
- Benfotiamine counteracts smoking-induced vascular dysfunction in healthy smokers