Benfotiamine (S-benzyolthiamine-O-monophosphate) is a synthetic derivative of thiamin, belonging to the family of compounds known as allithiamines. Benfotiamine is fat-soluble and more bioavailable and physiologically active than thiamin. Benfotiamine raises the blood level of thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP), the biologically active coenzyme of thiamin, and stimulates transkotelase, a cellular enzyme essential for maintenance of normal glucose metabolic pathways.Helps maintain healthy cells in the presence of blood glucose.Controls formation of Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs).Normalizes cellular processes fueled by glucose metabolites. Benfotiamine is readily absorbed at higher doses, in contrast to absorption of water-soluble thiamin salts, which decreases at higher doses, due to saturation of absorption sites in the intestines. In a double-blind, cross-over trial, comparing bioavailability of benfotiamine to that of thiamine in 12 subjects, benfotiamine caused an average 5-fold greater increase in blood thiamine levels than thiamin mononitrate, with a concomitant greater thiamine concentration in erythrocytes (red blood cells). Benfotiamine readily passes through intestinal mucosal cells, where it is converted into physiologically active thiamine. Benfotiamine inceases blood levels of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), the primary thiamin co-enzyme.
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