8 replies to this topic

[deadlift42]

I am looking for any personal insights as far as benfotiamine dosage. I currently take 150mg three times daily. Is this an optimal dose?

[Athanasios]

From all the data I have seen, I think it is a relatively powerful supplement. Only a little is needed to help out a lot. That being said, it seems to be safe and higher dosages can be used. I believe one study that showed wonderful results without adverse effects at 1 gram daily. I will try and find it. Health_nutty upped his dosage based on it, I believe.

I am currently taking 160mg a day.

I am interested in the data that could be brought forth in this thread. It is a good question.

Edit:

Here is the 1 gram study: http://care.diabetes.../full/29/9/2064

Edited by cnorwood, 02 July 2007 - 09:49 PM.

[ortcloud]

Yeah, I think the higher doses are for diabetics, so who knows what is an optimal dose for life extension/health. I take 150mg. also, as I find more is too stimulating.

[shifter]

150mg for me is probably 150mg more than 'regular' people. As it is fat soluable, how much gets stored and how much does the body use per day?

[Athanasios]

As it is fat soluable, how much gets stored and how much does the body use per day?

Here is a monograph:
http://www.thorne.co...xt/11/3/238.pdf

Benfotiamine is absorbed via passive diffusion through the intestinal mucosa and is rapidly converted to biologically active thiamine. Peak plasma concentrations of thiamine after oral benfotiamine administration are at least five times greater than those observed after oral administration of water-soluble thiamine salts. Half-life of benfotiamine is similar to thiamine salts, but bioavailability of benfotiamine eight days after administration is roughly 25 percent of the original dose, about 3.6 times greater than after an oral dose of a thiamine salt....Benfotiamine administration appears to be safe with no reports of toxicity in the scientific literature.

Edit: some of the quote was cut off, so i fixed it.

Edited by cnorwood, 03 July 2007 - 01:12 AM.

[neogenic]

So are there actions that are intrinsic to benfotiamine or is it essentially the megadosing of thiamine that yields its benefit endogenously?

[tintinet]

AOR's info:

"This modern form of the vitamin
holds promise against a new threat, AGE/ALE formation.

Benfotiamine can prevent protein glycation/lipoxidation
and lessen the damage they cause to cellular structures.
These properties are unique to benfotiamine and are not
seen with regular thiamine. The vitamin exhibits antioxidant
activity and, based on its structure, is considered an AGE
breaker.

Studies performed on human umbilical vein cells
cultured in a high glucose environment demonstrated that
the addition of benfotiamine to the solution reduced AGE
production to levels similar to the ones expected under
normal physiological glucose...


Benfotiamine's effectiveness in the prevention of AGE
formation may be related to the normalization of glycolysis.
Accelerated glycolysis leads to the production of more
intermediate metabolites such as glyceraldehyde-3-
phosphate (G-3-P) and fructose-6-phosphate, which are
highly reactive with proteins (G-3-P is 200 times more
reactive to proteins than glucose).

Also, in hyperglycemic states, the mitochondria releases an
excessive amount ofsuperoxides - reactive oxygen compounds
that can cause significant damage to cells. Those superoxide then inhibit
the glycolytic enzyme GAPDH which forces glycolysis
metabolites into four other glucose pathways, causing
hyperglycemic damage. Benfotiamine activates the enzyme
transketolase, which transforms glucose metabolites before
they can interact with proteins."

[Athanasios]

So are there actions that are intrinsic to benfotiamine or is it essentially the megadosing of thiamine that yields its benefit endogenously?

It is my understanding that it is the superior bioavailability that allows megadosing of thiamine which then gives the benefits. To measure the amount of thiamine in the blood some take a look at transketolase, which is the mechanism of action of benfotiamine. I think it is safe to say it is all about the bioavailability.

[neogenic]

If that is the case, which other B-vitamins could benefit from a fat-soluble version of which mega-dosing is advantageous...such as Pantothenic acid, B6 or B12? Would comparable effects/bioavailability be expected?

I know there are other versions, acitive metabolites that have improved effects, e.g. methylcobalamin or Pantethine, etc., but I am still wondering about this potential of the fat soluble B-vitamins.

Ascobyl Palmitate is the fat soluble C, so maybe we can theorize here...