Long-term benfotiamine in type 1 diabetes
The question: Does benfotiamine protect nerves in diabetes?
- Study type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Participants
- 67
- Population
- Adults with type 1 diabetes, mostly without established neuropathy
- Intervention
- Benfotiamine 300 mg daily
- Compared with
- Placebo
- Duration
- 24 months
- Published
- Diabetes Care, 2012
What was measured
Peripheral nerve function and inflammatory markers.
What was found
Blood thiamine levels rose substantially, but nerve function and inflammatory markers did not differ between groups.
Limitations
Most participants had near-normal nerves, leaving little room to show improvement. It did not test people with established neuropathy.
What it means
A useful null result. Benfotiamine is well absorbed, but whether it changes nerve outcomes depends on who is treated, and that question is still open.
Source
Fraser DA, Diep LM, Hovden IA, et al. The effects of long-term oral benfotiamine supplementation on peripheral nerve function and inflammatory markers in patients with type 1 diabetes: a 24-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Diabetes Care. 2012;35(5):1095-1097.
Read the original (DOI 10.2337/dc11-1895) · Source verified 8 October 2026
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Study summaries describe published research for education. They are not claims about any product and are not medical advice.