A-Z oxidative stress Articles

Benfotiamine was originally discovered over 50 years ago in roasted crushed garlic and onions. It is a precursor to thiamine (vitamin B1), in which the ring substructure remains open. This means that it is fat soluble and can cross cellular membranes more freely than thiamine's closed-ring structure. Once inside the cell, benfotiamine is quickly converted to thiamine pyrophoshate (TPP), the water-soluble, active coenzyme form of vitamin B1.

What is Thiamine?

Thiamine is a water-soluble B vitamin also known as vitamin B1. In its active form (TPP) thiamine is a cofactor in many chemical reactions throughout the body including many of the reactions that convert dietary protein, carbohydrate and fat into energy in our cells. Natural vitamin B1 food sources include,

• Fortified breakfast cereals
• Pork
• Fish
• Beans & Lentils
• Green Peas
• Enriched Cereals, Breads, Noodles & Rice
• Sunflower Seeds
• Yogurt

Benfotiamine Health Benefits

Improved Absorption

Thiamine requires the body to use transporters to actively move it from the digestive tract into the blood and from the blood into the cells. This means that taking more than 12mg at a time of thiamine, does not significantly increase the amount you absorb because the transport molecules are completely saturated. Benfotiamine, on the other hand, is a molecule that can bypass these transport mechanisms and directly diffuse into your cells, leaving no limit to potential absorption.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Interestingly, benfotiamine has been clinically shown to dramatically improve the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy and to reduce peripheral nerve pain in diabetics. Prolonged supplementation was found to improve peripheral nerve transmission in diabetics to a level equal to non-diabetic participants, which means it improved the touch sense in their extremeties back to normal levels. It is theorized that benfotiamine protects body cells against damaging glycosylation by excess blood sugar levels. This damage occurs via the same process that creates high levels of HbA1c (glycosylated hemoglobin) in poorly controlled diabetics. HbA1c is commonly tested in diabetics to assess long term glucose control and potential for health risks from their disease. Thus, benfotiamine can help to protect the blood vessels, retina, and nerves against damage from poorly controlled blood sugar.

How To Increase Intake Of Benfotiamine & Reduce Risk of Vitamin B1 Deficiency

All of the B vitamins work together and are best used by the body in a B complex. B complex supplements generally include vitamin B1 in its various forms. Only certain B complexes contain benfotiamine as a precursor to vitamin B1, so if you prefer this type, be sure to check the label on your supplement. The recommended daily dosage of benfotiamine is between 40 and 150mg daily for thiamine supplementation, and between 300 and 450mg daily for glycosylation protection.

Important Information & Potential Vitamin B1 Side Effects

B1 is depleted by the use of antibiotics, sulfa drugs, oral contraceptives and anti-seizure medications, like Dilantin. Heavy consumption of alcohol, caffeine and sugar decrease levels of thiamine in the body, as does increased strenuous exercise. There is no known toxicity associated with benfotiamine supplementation at this time.

What Is SOD?

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a powerful enzyme found in nearly every cell of your body. Its primary function is to convert harmful superoxide radicals into less damaging hydrogen peroxide and oxygen. 

Superoxide radicals are highly reactive molecules that can cause significant cellular and tissue damage if not neutralized. By neutralizing these free radicals, superoxide dismutase acts as potent antioxidant, helping to protect cells from oxidative stress. This antioxidant capability reduces inflammation and plays a role in potentially slowing down the visible signs of aging. Furthermore, SOD is crucial for maintaining overall cellular health and longevity, making it an essential component of the body's defence system.

Top Health Benefits of SOD

Anti-Inflammatory Support

SOD can act as a potent anti-inflammatory molecule in the human body. White blood cells release large amounts of superoxide to neutralize deleterious bacteria present in the tissues. This is a useful adaptive response that can sometimes go awry in cases of inflammation caused by conditions such as arthritis or autoimmune disease. When this occurs, the white blood cells release superoxide in these areas of inflammation and cause local destruction of the tissue. This leads to more inflammation and a continuation of the destructive cycle. Superoxide dismutase can help to break this cycle by disassembling the superoxide, thus preventing further inflammation and tissue destruction. In Europe, SOD is frequently used to treat osteoarthritis and sports injuries.

Anti-Aging Benefits

It has been put forward that the potent antioxidant power of SOD could help to reduce the physical signs of aging. There is very little research on the supplementation of superoxide dismutase for this purpose. It is generally accepted that increased intake of antioxidants and a reduction in systemic inflammation are both powerful ways to reduce the cellular damage that causes physical aging, but more research is required before anti-aging claims can be proven.

Taking SOD Supplements

All clinical trials involving the use of SOD had it administered via intravenous or injection. There is very little data available on the use of oral supplementation. Because of this, there is no recommended dosage available. It is advisable to follow the manufacturer's suggested dosing on the label of each supplement.

Important Information

SOD has been found to be a remarkably safe compound for both ingestion and injection. There are no studies on the use of superoxide dismutase during pregnancy and breast-feeding so use should be avoided during these times. Some studies have found that SOD may not be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, and also found that some supplements do not contain the amounts of active superoxide dismutase that they claim to have. Be careful and purchase SOD only from a company that you trust.