Can Benfothiamine replace Thiamine?
 

If I have a mild B1 deficiency, could I just take benfothiamine instead of a regular thiamine supplement? (B-complex and B1 supplements and me don't get a long for some reason...).

Also I heard that if you take ALA then you should monitor your b1 levels.
So is benfothiamine enough for me?

*We are so lucky to have this forum and especially Mrs.D

Yes, you can try benfotiamine. What reactions did you have with B-complex and B-1? A Bcomplex has thiamine in it already.

Start with 150mg of benfotiamine only, until you see how you tolerate it. It is typically free of side effects for most people.

Benfotiamine is usually used in alcohol rehabilitation, and for those with genetic errors of thiamine enzymes, or high sugar/carb intake thru the diet. It does not cause the body odor that regular thiamine causes.

Well the B-complex (and other supplements as well) aggravates my skin probelm (I dont know how and why but it sucks). Benfothiamine causes me fast heartbeats but its my only option.
Buy the way, I read on one of your posts that LOW DOSE amitriptyline helps with nerve growth. What do you consider to be a low dose that is high enough for the growth?

Here is the article about it:

http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/06...tors/6761.html

I wouldn't take anything (including the amitriptyline) until you get your heart checked out for long QT syndrome or a reason for that tachycardia.

The information about amitriptyline does not include dosing or details about the study.

Well B-complex and other supplements somehow aggravate my skin problem. Frustrating. Maybe its a detox sign or so I hope.
I am on benfothiamine for a few days and hope that it won't affect skin. Although it does increase heartbeat rate (but so do B-complex or other stuff).
Do you know if it can be beneficial also for autonomic neuropathy?

Buy the way, on one of your posts I read that LOW DOSE amitriptyline promotes nerve growth. What do you consider a low dose that is high enough for that growth factor?

Mrs.D, On medscape they say benfothiamine does not raise brain thiamine levels... (cannot post url but you can google it)

So maybe benfothiamine may not replace thiamine...

The question is what to do if you take ALA and diet is not very rich in thiamine (which is known to be mostly in whole grains - high carbs)...

Hi, you mention skin rashes and issues. I've been bringing up the subject of Lectins in the last couple days here and posting about Lectins in a few areas. Wheats and Legumes are the major culprits and these Lectins can also cause skin irritations/rashes.

http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2014/0...an-cause-harm/

Personally, I've stopped bringing any breads into my house for probably 7 yrs and buying most gluten free crackers and chips when I'm moved to buy these. I'm eliminating BEANS in my diet for a while starting NOW and will be watching for improvements if they are to happen. I've been eating a lot of beans in the last couple yrs and feeling more joint pains and a rash on my arthritic foot. Lectins in many cases are not our friends. I don't know how your diet is, but something to consider.

What I found about benfotiamine includes:

In vitro studies (test tube work not using living systems)
in vitro studies may or may not translate to living humans.

Animal studies. These may also not translate to humans.

I did find some comments about not using lipoic acid if you are thiamine deficient.
I do not know where those comments come from.

Benfotiamine comes to the US from mostly German use.

I found a mention about befotiamine being converted to thiamine when passing the GI tract. Thiamine itself does not cross GI membranes well. So some of the benfotiamine successful use may pertain to just MORE of it getting into the blood stream this way. We have some discussions on our PD forum ...they are using high dose thiamine (and some are using benfotiamine) to help their movement disorder. You can search those posts on the PD forum using "benfotiamine" and "thiamine".

Rashes can be from many things. If a rash occurs after you use or eat something, stop using it and see if the rash resolves. Then reintroduce the suspected item and see if you get the same rash back. Don't confuse a rash with just flushing or pinkness. That may be a vasospastic event and not a true rash.

It sounds to me like you are conflicted about B1. If I were you I'd just forget about it. If you are of Asian descent you may have a genetic error in thiamine metabolism. These individuals cannot metabolize some drugs well, or alcohol.

My diet is a semi paleo diet. I do eat peas but almost no grains or nuts.
Mrs.D do you think it is not a must to take b complex or benfothiamine for small fiber neuropathy? It is so frustrating all of this. I don't know how long I can hold myself if you know what I mean...

What does your B12 results say? Don't have them, then it is time for testing.

The big three items IMO for PN are
methylcobalamin
Folate (perhaps methylfolate)
magnesium

The 4th is Omega-3's.

As the days and weeks and months pass on these forums more and more patients are getting the DNA testing for MTHFR mutations and finding they have this genetic problem. When these common factors are present, you cannot methylate (activate) folic acid and cobalamins in food.
You may have difficulty making certain neurotransmitters properly. The testing is not expensive.

more here:
http://mthfr.net/