Benfotiamine
Summary
Benfotiamine raises blood thiamine more than standard B1. Results in diabetic nerve damage are mixed: a 6-week trial improved symptom scores, but 12- and 24-month trials found no change in nerve measures. In mild Alzheimer disease, a 12-month pilot trial of 70 people found less clinical worsening (grade D).
Key facts
How it works
ProposedBenfotiamine is dephosphorylated and absorbed, then converted to thiamine and its active coenzyme form; it is proposed to divert glucose metabolites away from damaging pathways in diabetes.[1]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nerves | Grade C | Improved | RCT · n = 165 · 2008 | 3 rows |
| Cognition | Grade D | Mixed | Pilot RCT · n = 70 · 2020 | 1 row |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neuropathy symptom score in diabetes | Improved | Grade C | RCT · n = 165 · 2008 Adults with symmetrical distal diabetic polyneuropathy Form: Benfotiamine · Dose: 300 or 600 mg/day · Duration: 6 weeks The Neuropathy Symptom Score improved more than with placebo; the Total Symptom Score did not differ. | 18473286 (opens PubMed)Source [1] |
| Clinical decline in MCI and mild Alzheimer disease | Mixed | Grade D | Pilot RCT · n = 70 · 2020 Adults with amnestic MCI or mild Alzheimer disease Form: Benfotiamine · Dose: 300 mg twice daily · Duration: 12 months ADAS-Cog worsened 43% less than placebo (not significant, p=0.125); CDR worsening was 77% lower (p=0.034). | 33074237 (opens PubMed)Source [4] |
| Peripheral nerve function in type 1 diabetes | No effect | No effect | RCT · n = 67 · 2012 Adults with type 1 diabetes Form: Benfotiamine · Dose: 300 mg/day · Duration: 24 months Blood thiamine rose markedly, but nerve function and inflammatory markers did not change versus placebo. | 22446172 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
| Corneal nerve fibre length in type 2 diabetes | No effect | No effect | RCT · n = 57 · 2026 Adults with type 2 diabetes and mild to moderate symptomatic polyneuropathy Form: Benfotiamine · Dose: 300 mg twice daily · Duration: 12 months Corneal nerve fibre length did not change versus placebo; treatment was well tolerated. | 41571333 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
Forms
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 300 mg/day for 24 months to 600 mg/day (300 mg twice daily) for 12 months.[2][4][3]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
None found in our sources.
Who should be careful
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- The trials cited here did not enrol pregnant or breastfeeding people.[4]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Where to buy Benfotiamine
Products from brands we partner with that contain Benfotiamine. Listing a product is not a claim that it works; check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
- SupersmartPaid linkBenfotiamine4 capsules: 320 mg benfotiamine (80 mg per capsule); 30 servingsShop at Supersmart (opens in new tab)Price and label checked 2026-10-11 on the brand’s site.
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Frequently asked questions
Is benfotiamine better than regular vitamin B1?
It raises blood thiamine more, but trials have not shown clear benefits on nerve function in diabetes.[2]
Does benfotiamine help diabetic neuropathy?
A 6-week trial improved one symptom score, while 12- and 24-month trials found no change in nerve measures.[1][3][2]
Does benfotiamine help Alzheimer disease?
A 12-month pilot trial found less clinical worsening on one scale; larger trials are needed.[4]
Sources
- [1]Benfotiamine in diabetic polyneuropathy (BENDIP): results of a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes, 2008. RCT
- [2]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. RCT
- [3]Effects of benfotiamine treatment over 12 months on morphometric, neurophysiological and clinical measures in type 2 diabetes patients with symptomatic polyneuropathy: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial (BOND study).. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care, 2026. RCT
- [4]Benfotiamine and Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer's Disease: Results of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Phase IIa Clinical Trial.. J Alzheimers Dis, 2020. pilot-RCT
What changed
- Corrected the effect arrow (↑ improved, ↓ worsened for participants) on: Neuropathy symptom score in diabetes.
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities (title, journal and year taken from the PubMed record) and each evidence row written from its PubMed abstract.