The abstract on this study was published in the first part of 2003, benfotiamine is fast gaining recognition as a safe alternative in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy and retinopathy. The actual abstract can be viewed at the URL below:

http://www.emuhealthproducts.com/whatisbenfotiamine.html

The conclusion of this research states:

"These data suggest that treatment with benfotiamine may be an effective approach to prevent the development of diabetic complications."

Benfotiamine has been used in Europe for over 12 years. It has been effectively used for neuropathies with no reported side effects being mentioned.

Benfotiamine is a unique synthetic variant of vitamin B1 and Michael Brownlee, M.D., has shown that it holds much promise in preventing nerve and blood-vessel damage in diabetics.

Discovered by the Japanese and patented in 1962, it did not gain favor in the US due to lack of publicity. After Dr. Brownlee's study in the first part of this year, benfotiamine had to be imported from Germany by those interested in using it. is now available in the US.

The US Patent on Benfotiamine can be looked at below:

To view the patent at the USPTO site, you may initiate your own search by copying and pasting the URL below into your browser window. In "search term 1" use: "3064000"; corresponding to "field 1": "patent number," then be sure to "select years": "1790 to present."

http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/search-bool.html

Is it a miracle cure? No. Is it effective? The current research shows that it does. The anecdotal testimonials from those who are using it is overwhelming in favor of this substance.

Is Benfotiamine right for you? If you are diabetic, you may or may not already suffer from some form of neuropathy. If you are not experiencing symptoms of neuropathy, then prevention is the goal.

The research indicates that it would be prudent for any diabetic to look into benfotiamine and determine if it is something that can be beneficial to them. Should you use benfotiamine? The following URL can provide you with more information that can help you with this so that you can make an informed decision.

http://www.emuhealthproducts.com/benfouse.html

Much more information can be accessed at:

http://www.emuhealthproducts.com/benfotiaminehistory.html

Here is an Associated Press article about Benfotiamine:

http://www.abcnews.go.com/wire/Living/ap20030217_186.html

Zach Malott

References:

Loew D. Pharmacokinetics of thiamine derivatives especially of benfotiamine. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1996 Feb;34(2):47-50. Stracke H, Lindemann A, Federlin K. A Benfotiamine-vitamin B combination in treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 1996;104(4):311-6 Lin J, Alt A, Liersch J, Bretzel RG, Brownlee MA, Hammes HP. Benfotiamine inhibits intracellular formation of advanced glycation endproducts in vivo. Diabetes. 2000 May;49(Suppl1):A143(P583). Hammes HP, Du X, Edelstein D, Taguchi T, Matsumura T, Ju Q, Lin J, Bierhaus A, Nawroth P, Hannak D, Neumaier M, Bergfeld R, Giardino I, Brownlee M. Benfotiamine blocks three major pathways of hyperglycemic damage and prevents experimental diabetic retinopathy. Nat Med. 2003 Feb 18 [epub ahead of print]; doi:10.1038/nm834. Winkler G, Pal B, Nagybeganyi E, Ory I, Porochnavec M, Kempler P. Effectiveness of different Benfotiamine dosage regimens in the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy. Arzneimittelforschung. 1999 Mar; 49(3): 220-4. Koltai MZ. Prevention of cardiac autonomic neuropathy in dogs with Benfotiamine. In Gries FA Langlais PJ, McRee RC, Nalwalk JA, Hough LB Depletion of brain histamine produces regionally selective protection against thiamine deficiency-induced lesions in the rat. Metab Brain Dis 2002 Sep;17(3):199-210