Formula: * The chemical name and formula for benfotiamine is: S-benzoylthiamine-O-monophosphate (C19H23N4O6PS) . Benfotiamin & benfothiamine are synonyms for benfotiamine, however "benfotiamine" is currently the most frequently used common name for this compound. View Benfotiamine Molecule
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If you prefer to view the patent at the USPTO site, you may initiate your own search by clicking below and in "search term 1" use: "3064000"; corresponding to "field 1": "patent number," then be sure to "select years": "1790 to present." USPTO Quick Search Page.
This site was established to provide visitors with comprehensive information about benfotiamine, a synthetic derivative of thiamine (vitamin B-1) which shows promise in treating a number of neurological and vascular conditions. Benfotiamine also appears to have beneficial anti-aging qualities, protecting human cells from harmful metabolic end products.
Benfotiamine is not just for diabetics. Any population suffering from conditions brought about by unknown or inadvertent thiamine deficiencies should respond well to benfotiamine. Benfotiamine is emerging as the most effective of the thiamine compounds.
With benfotiamine, the sustained increase of Thiamine Pyrophosphate (TPP) and the resulting activation of the enzyme transketolase in the system can produce beneficial effects on general nerve health, sciatica, neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy, polyneuropathy, peripheral neuropathy (PN), shingles, herpes zoster, fibromyalgia, general ageing, other nerve conditions, vascular health, blood pressure and coronary health for diabetics and non-diabetics alike.
Benfotiamine (a lipid-soluble form of vitamin B-1) was developed in Japan in the late 1950's to treat alcoholic neuropathy, sciatica and other painful nerve conditions. It was patented in the U.S. in 1962, and has been in widespread use in Japan since 1962 and in Europe since 1978 with encouraging results and an excellent safety record.
IS IT SAFE?
Information from the patent filed in 1962 indicates that lab mice were able to tolerate 22 times more benfotiamine by body weight than common vitamin B-1 (thiamine hydrochloride). You may view this data on page 2 of the U.S. patent (see Table III) using the link provided, see left bar. Given the comparison to the toxicity of vitamin B-1, it's interesting to know more about that compound's toxicity. Page four of the following study documents a scientific opinion:
Vitamin B-1 Toxicity (pdf).
BOTTOM LINE: benfotiamine is less toxic than thiamine hydrochloride (common vitamin B-1) and after decades of use by millions of people, there have been no adverse affects reported related to the use of vitamin B-1. We believe there is minimal to nil downside in trying benfotiamine and the individual results have the potential to be quite significant.
WHY HASN'T BENFOTIAMINE BEEN IN WIDESPREAD USE IN THE U.S.?
Though attempts were made by the Japanese pharmaceutical manufacturer Sankyo to market benfotiamine in the U.S. years ago, there was little interest until the recent article published in the U.S. by Dr. Brownlee. Since that time, interest in benfotiamine has increased dramatically. Read More
Diabetics form a large sub-group of those who could benefit from benfotiamine. Diabetes is an insidious malady. The adverse effects of high blood glucose must be addressed. The best course of action is proper diet, exercise and medication to control blood glucose levels. In addition, ensuring proper cellular nutrition with a safe dietary supplement to combat the metabolic effects of high blood glucose at the cellular level seems a prudent course of action.
Benfotiamine is believed to enhance in humans the activity of the enzyme transketolase, which converts harmful glucose metabolites at the cellular level into harmless chemicals, preventing damage, especially to the endothelial cells which line the small arteries and capillaries of the kidneys and retinas.
(This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.)
If benfotiamine in fact produces such an effect in humans, and anecdotal evidence along with the clinical trials cited above suggest that it does, then a regimen of benfotiamine seems called for. It is noteworthy that there have been no anecdotal nor clinical reports of toxicity or adverse side affects associated with benfotiamine after decades of public use in Japan & Europe. As noted above, the original U.S. patent for benfotiamine scientifically documents that the compound is far less toxic than thiamine hydrochloride itself (vitamin B-1). Another study concluded that benfotiamine is 30 times less toxic than acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol).
FDA DISCLAIMER: Because benfotiamine is a dietary supplement the FDA only requires manufacturers and distributors to have credible evidence as to its safety. The FDA itself has not evaluated benfotiamine for safety or effectiveness. Benfotiamine therefore cannot be represented to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. For more information on this and related topics, please
follow this link to FAQ's on benfotiamine.
