Thiamine 'reverses kidney damage'

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Thiamine 'reverses kidney damage'

_http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7796073.stm_

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7796073.stm)

Doses of vitamin B1 (thiamine) can reverse early kidney disease in people

with type 2 diabetes, research shows.

The team from Warwick University tested the effect of vitamin B1, which is

found in meat, yeast and grain, on 40 patients from Pakistan.

The treatment stopped the loss of a key protein in the urine, the journal

Diabetologia reports.

Charity Diabetes UK called the results " very promising " - but said it was

too early for any firm conclusions.

The latest findings build on earlier work by the Warwick University team,

showing that many diabetes patients have a deficiency of thiamine.

According to the researchers, this cheap and readily available supplement

could benefit most people with diabetes - both type 1 and type 2 - as

between 70% and 90% of people with diabetes are thiamine deficient.

In diabetes the small blood vessels in the body can become damaged.

When the blood vessels that supply blood to the kidneys are involved, the

kidneys stop working correctly and important proteins, such as albumin, are

lost from the blood into the urine.

A third of the patients in the study saw a return to normal urinary

albumin excretion after being treated with high dose (300mg) thiamine taken

orally each day for three months.

The experts say thiamine works by helping protect cells against the

harmful effects of the high blood sugar levels found in diabetes.

Lead researcher Professor Thornalley said: " This is the first study

of its kind and suggests that correcting thiamine deficiency in people with

diabetes with thiamine supplements may provide improved therapy for

early-stage kidney disease. "

They plan more work to confirm their findings.

Dr Iain Frame of Diabetes UK said: " Diabetes UK hopes a large clinical

trial will be possible as results so far are very promising.

" However, we would like to stress that it's still too early to come to any

firm conclusions about the role of vitamin B1 and we would not advise that

people look to vitamin supplements to reduce their risk of kidney

complications at this stage. "

A person should be able to get all the thiamine they need from a normal

healthy diet.

Story from BBC NEWS:

_http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/7796073.stm_

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/7796073.stm)

Published: 2008/12/29 00:07:31 GMT

Related Articles

Diabetes problems 'vitamin link'

There are more than two million people in the UK with diabetes

A simple vitamin deficiency may be the cause of many of the side effects

of diabetes, a study suggests.

The Warwick University team said thiamine helped ward off complications

such as heart disease and eye problems, the Diabetologia journal said.

Researchers found people with the disease expelled thiamine - vitamin B1 -

from their bodies at 15 times the normal rate in a study of 94 people.

The team measured thiamine levels in blood plasma and found concentrations

were 76% lower in people with type 1 diabetes and 75% lower in people with

type 2.

_http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6935482.stm_

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6935482.stm)

Vitamin B1 Mega Doses Reverse Early-stage Kidney Disease

[sOURCE: Rabbani et al. High-dose thiamine therapy for patients with

type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria: a randomised, double-blind

placebo-controlled pilot study. Diabetologia, 2008; DOI:

10.1007/s00125-008-1224-4]

_http://www.letterfromserendipity.com/serendipity61.htm#b1_

(http://www.letterfromserendipity.com/serendipity61.htm#b1)

Benfotiamine

28 References. European Supplement Protects Against Diabetic

Complications; Benfotiamine Differs from Conventional Diabetes Drugs;

Benfotiamine's

Biochemical Response to High Blood Sugar; Benfotiamine Protects Delicate

Nerve and Brain Tissue; Benfotiamine Optimizes Endothelial and Vascular

Function; Benfotiamine Reduces Heart Disease Risk; Benfotiamine Promotes Kidney

Health; Benfotiamine Helps to Avert Vision Loss; Conclusion

For decades, benfotiamine has been safely used as a prescription drug in

Europe, where this natural vitamin B1 derivative has demonstrated efficacy

in preventing many serious complications of prolonged hyperglycemia.

_http://www.naturodoc.com/library/treatments/bloodsugar.htm_

(http://www.naturodoc.com/library/treatments/bloodsugar.htm)