If you take a B vitamin supplement, you may experience feelings of energy, vitality, a healthy mood, and behavior. What you may not know is that all B vitamins are essential, which means your body can’t make them. They can only be obtained from a healthy diet or a dietary supplement.
Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is an essential nutrient, which means that it is required for the normal functions of a healthy body. In fact, thiamine-dependent enzymes are present in all cells of the body. Thiamine is available in many forms, including fat-soluble benfotiamine.
Benfotiamine benefits may include support for physical activity, vitality, and a healthy mood and behavior. Additionally, this essential vitamin may provide support for a healthy brain, a healthy central nervous system, a healthy respiratory system, and the normal regulation of blood sugar levels already with the normal range.
Support for Alcohol Metabolism
Benfotiamine has many potential benefits, including support for alcohol consumption. When consuming alcohol, the uptake of thiamine in the gastrointestinal tract can decrease, possibly resulting in a thiamine deficiency. In a lab setting, acute and long-term alcohol use was shown to negatively affect the activity of thiamine-dependent enzymes.  The activity of the TPK enzyme from various tissues decreased with acute alcohol exposure to about 70 percent of the activity level in control animals, and with chronic alcohol exposure to about 50 percent.
The result of impaired thiamine utilization can range from disruptions in the production of energy inside cells and disruptions in normal central nervous system and brain signaling. However, taking a supplement may help to fill nutrition gaps that may occur as a result of alcohol use.
Support for a Healthy Brain And Central Nervous System
As noted, vitamin B1 interacts with different systems of the body, including your metabolism. In the brain, proper glucose metabolism supports the function of compounds that are believed to maintain a healthy brain, including support for cognition, memory, learning, and focus.
Benfotiamine benefits may also include support for a healthy circulatory system. This is because of how thiamine interacts with nerves that connect the different areas of the body, including the hands and feet. Thiamine may also support normal eye movement, normal tissue contraction, and may provide temporary relief from occasional pain.
Blood Sugar Production and Glucose Metabolism
A benfotiamine supplement may also help maintain blood sugar levels already within the normal range. A study published by PubMed Central Canada concludes that benfotiamine promotes the synthesis of insulin pancreatic beta cells. The same study reports that benfotiamine provides support for glucose metabolism in cells of the body.
Another study found similar results, noting benfotiamine is a transketolase activator, meaning the vitamin might support the production and normal function of cells. The study found that benfotiamine has been known to help maintain the structure of endothelial cells, which form the lining of blood vessels. These potential benefits may be partially due to its antioxidant properties.
Additionally, benfotiamine may also support the regulation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). This process involves enzymes that are responsible for the production of nitrous oxide, which is a signaling molecule that helps to control vascular tone, insulin secretion, airway tone, and contractions of the intestine.
Experience Benfotiamine for Thiamine Support Today
A poor diet, gastrointestinal changes or a genetic predisposition causing poor thiamine absorption may cause a thiamine deficiency. Benfotiamine is shown to promote the production of thiamine in the body. Taking one or more of these supplements may help fill these nutrition gaps.
Benfotiamine + from Kal is a dietary supplement and fat-soluble derivative of vitamin B1 that seeks to support blood glucose levels already within the normal range.
Anti-Alcohol with HepatoProtection Complex from Life Extension is a dietary supplement that may support a healthy liver with benfotiamine and other vitamins and minerals. This formula may support detoxification and free radical scavenging antioxidants.
Each benfotiamine dosage varies by product. Try a supplement today to see if it makes a difference to your health!
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I’m passionate about healing. I use food as medicine, a proven approach for healing from chronic disease. When you are tired of taking prescription medication or are ready to take a different approach to your health, let me teach you which foods can help you live a healthy life!
