What Is Benfotiamine?

Benfotiamine is a dietary supplement that is converted in the body to thiamine (vitamin B1). Thiamine helps your body turn nutrients into energy and is essential for brain function. Some people use benfotiamine to raise thiamine levels because it is considered to be highly bioavailable. This means that it reaches the bloodstream quickly and produces high levels of thiamine in the body.

Because it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, benfotiamine may also be helpful for diabetic neuropathy (nerve pain) and Alzheimer's disease.

This article reviews the current evidence about benfotiamine's effectiveness. It also discusses potential side effects and precautions, and what to look for when buying it.

Uses of Benfotiamine

Recommended daily levels of thiamine are 1.2 milligrams (mg) for adult males, 1.1 milligrams for adult females, and 1.4 mg during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Some people may develop a thiamine deficiency when intakes are lower over time than recommended levels, they have a specific risk factor for lower-than-normal levels, or there is a particular reason they are unable to digest or absorb thiamine.

Thiamine deficiency is rare in the United States, but it is more likely in older adults and people with the following conditions:

• Alcohol dependence
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or AIDS
• Diabetes
• After bariatric surgery

Thiamine deficiency can lead to nerve, heart, and brain conditions. Initial symptoms include weight loss, memory loss, confusion, and muscle weakness. More severe forms are beriberi (characterized by peripheral neuropathy or nerve pain) and the life-threatening Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which involves peripheral neuropathy and psychosis.

Benfotiamine can boost thiamine levels and help prevent these effects. Some research supports the use of benfotiamine for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and diabetic neuropathy as well. Here's the latest evidence supporting these claims.

Alzheimer's Disease

AD is a degenerative brain disease. Symptoms include:

• Progressive memory loss
• Poor judgment
• Misplacing things
• Getting lost
• Mood and personality changes

AD symptoms are believed to involve abnormal clumps of proteins in the brain called amyloid plaques. Those features may be linked to processes in the body that rely on thiamine. But thiamine supplements have been found ineffective for slowing disease progression or reducing symptoms, even at high doses of 3 grams (g) per day for a year. It's thought this is because thiamine is poorly bioavailable or unable to be used by the body efficiently.

In one study, five people with AD took 300 milligrams (mg) of benfotiamine daily for 18 months. They all had some cognitive improvement. A small sample size limited this trial. Also, there was no placebo (sugar pill) control compared to the benfotiamine treatment.

Another study of 70 patients with either mild cognitive impairment or mild AD showed benfotiamine 300 mg twice a day for 12 months increased thiamin levels and improved cognitive function, as measured by several tests. These results suggest benfotiamine may be helpful for mild AD, but more research is needed.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetes involves high blood sugar levels, which can damage blood vessels and cause diabetic neuropathy.

Symptoms of neuropathy include:

• Pain or diminished sensation in the feet
• Burning or shooting pains in the lower legs
• Balance and coordination problems

Benfotiamine inhibits what are known as advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), which are markers for diabetic complications. Because thiamine deficiency is also known to cause nerve pain, in theory, supplementing with benfotiamine could alleviate some symptoms of neuropathy.

But clinical data is minimal. A review of six trials that studied the effect of benfotiamine on diabetic nerve pain was inconclusive. Overall, there was not enough evidence to support the use of benfotiamine for people with this condition.

The BOND trial is a 12-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing benfotiamine 300 mg twice daily with a placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes and neuropathy. Results are pending, but more research is needed before conclusions can be drawn.

Additional Uses

In addition to the potential health benefits listed above, some people use benfotiamine to support:

• Alcohol use disorder
• Diabetic kidney disease

There is currently not enough evidence to recommend benfotiamine for these uses.

What Are the Side Effects of Benfotiamine?

Your provider may recommend you take benfotiamine for nerve pain or Alzheimer's disease, or another reason. However, consuming a supplement like benfotiamine may have potential side effects. These side effects may be common or severe.

Common Side Effects

While few side effects have been reported, extremely high doses aren't advised. Little is known about the long-term safety of benfotiamine.

A safety and tolerability study reported that the rate of adverse effects for short-term benfotiamine use in young, healthy volunteers was similar to that for placebo. The maximum doses studied were 1,200 mg daily for up to ten days. Side effects reported with benfotiamine included:

• Increased liver enzymes
• Increased blood pressure
• Sinus bradycardia, or slow heart rate
• Increased pulse rate
• Increased white blood cell (WBC) count
• Proteinuria

Severe Side Effects

There are no documented severe side effects of benfotiamine. However, most studies are short-term, and safety data are limited.

Precautions

The safety of supplements hasn't been established for: 

• Pregnant women
• Nursing mothers
• Children
• Those with specific medical conditions
• Those taking medications

Dosage: How Much Benfotiamine Should I Take?

No safe or effective dosage recommendations have been established for benfotiamine as a treatment for any condition.

Most studies in people with diabetes have used dosages of 300 mg twice a day. Other trials have used doses as high as 900 mg per day without significant problems.

If you want to try benfotiamine supplements, talk to your healthcare provider. They can guide you on whether it's safe for you and help you determine an appropriate dosage.

What Happens If I Take Too Much Benfotiamine?

Benfotiamine does not appear to cause toxicity.

Interactions

Little is known about benfotiamine's potential drug or food interactions.

Prescription medications furosemide (Lasix) and fluorouracil (Adrucil) lower the levels of thiamin in the body, so those medicines might also make benfotiamine less effective.

It is essential to carefully read a supplement's ingredients list and nutrition facts panel to learn which ingredients are in the product and how much of each ingredient is included. Please review this supplement label with your healthcare provider to discuss potential interactions with foods, other supplements, and medications.

How to Store Benfotiamine

Benfotiamine should be stored in a cool, dry place and discarded according to package instructions. Keep it out of the sight and reach of children and pets.

Similar Supplements

Commonly used supplements for thiamin deficiency are:

• Thiamine mononitrate
• Thiamine hydrochloride
• Combination B-vitamin products

Other supplements that may benefit patients with diabetic neuropathy include:

• Alpha-lipoic acid
• Capsaicin
• Ginger
• Raspberry

Supplements of interest in Alzheimer's Disease include:

• Turmeric
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin E
• Ginkgo biloba
• Creatine
  

Sources of Benfotiamine & What to Look For

Several sources of benfotiamine are available.

Food Sources of Benfotiamine

Benfotiamine is found in roasted garlic and other herbs from the Allium family, such as chives, shallots, and leeks.

Benfotiamine Supplements

Benfotiamine supplements are widely available online and in stores specializing in supplements. They may be purchased in capsule or powder form.

When choosing one, review the Supplement Facts label. It'll tell you about any fillers, binders, or flavorings. It also says how much of the active ingredient it contains.

Look for a seal of approval from a third-party quality-testing organization, such as USP, ConsumerLab, or NSF. This ensures the product contains the listed ingredients and no harmful contaminants. A seal of approval doesn't guarantee the product's safety or effectiveness.

Summary

Benfotiamine is a supplement that can increase the level of an essential vitamin, thiamine, in the body. It may help with diabetic neuropathy and Alzheimer's disease. More research is needed, though.

Side effects are possible, but they've been rare in studies. Official dosages aren't yet established. Check with your healthcare provider before taking benfotiamine.