Profiles in nutraceuticals Part 4: Benfotiamine

摘要

Benfotiamine is a lipid-soluble thiamine derivative nutrient, which blocks three major biochemical pathways where high blood sugar silently and without any side-effects promotes tissue damage. These major biochemical pathways, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of hyperglycemia induced vascular damage are the hexos-amine pathway, the advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation pathway and the diacylglycerol (DAG) protein kinase C (PKC) pathway. The ability of benfotiamine to inhibit these major pathways simultaneously makes it a valuable therapeutic nutraceutical in preventing the evolution and advancement of inflammatory diabetic complications such as diabetic neuropathy, which can result in renal failure, blindness. heart attack and limb amputation.