Benfotiamine
Also known as: S-benzoylthiamine O-monophosphate, benfothiamine, benzoylthiamine monophosphate
Randomised trials and reviews report mixed findings. A 12-month RCT in mild cognitive impairment/mild Alzheimer's disease reported signals of less clinical decline and reduced AGE increases versus placebo, with safety reported as good. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses in diabetic kidney disease and peripheral neuropathy conclude limited or inconsistent evidence of benefit; some small trials reported modest short-term improvements in neuropathy measures and reductions in genomic damage in haemodialysis patients.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-14 · 5 indexed studies
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Overview
Benfotiamine is a synthetic, lipid-soluble derivative of thiamine (vitamin B1) used orally with the aim of increasing tissue thiamine availability. Clinical trials and reviews have tested it for diabetic complications, peripheral neuropathy and cognitive decline in early Alzheimer-type disease.
Mechanism & Function
Mechanism of Action
Benfotiamine is converted to active thiamine, supporting transketolase and other thiamine-dependent enzymes, which can divert glycolytic intermediates into the pentose phosphate pathway and reduce formation of advanced glycation end products (AGE). Reported effects in clinical studies include reductions in circulating AGE and increased plasma antioxidant capacity.
Physiological Role
Supports thiamine-dependent carbohydrate metabolism, may reduce AGE formation and oxidative stress, and thereby affect pathways implicated in microvascular complications and neurodegeneration.
Primary Pathways
Performance / Health Relevance
Not a performance ergogenic; relevance is primarily to metabolic and neurodegenerative disease processes rather than athletic performance.
Evidence Review
Practical Use & Dosage
- Minimum Effective Dose
- Not established (doses not specified in provided abstracts)
- Optimal Range
- Not established
- Upper / Caution Level
- Not established
- Timing
- Not established
- Best Format
- Oral benfotiamine formulation
- Bioavailability
- Benfotiamine is a lipid-soluble thiamine derivative designed to increase cellular thiamine availability compared with thiamine salts.
- Absorption Considerations
- Specific absorption data not provided in the supplied abstracts.
Safety & Interactions
Side Effects
- •Minor adverse effects reported infrequently in reviews; no major safety signals in the provided RCT abstract
Who Should Avoid
- •People with prescription-medication questions should consult a clinician; specific contraindications not reported in provided abstracts
Monitoring
Monitoring not specified in provided abstracts; in trials clinical safety was reported without major signals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Auto-generated from indexed evidence — dosage, safety, interactions, and more.
When is Benfotiamine typically used or indicated?
Benfotiamine is most commonly used for: Cognitive support in mild cognitive impairment/Alzheimer-type decline, Support for diabetic complications (neuropathy, kidney disease), General antioxidant / AGE-lowering adjunct. Supports thiamine-dependent carbohydrate metabolism, may reduce AGE formation and oxidative stress, and thereby affect pathways implicated in microvascular complications and neurodegeneration.
How does Benfotiamine work?
Benfotiamine is converted to active thiamine, supporting transketolase and other thiamine-dependent enzymes, which can divert glycolytic intermediates into the pentose phosphate pathway and reduce formation of advanced glycation end products (AGE). Reported effects in clinical studies include reductions in circulating AGE and increased plasma antioxidant capacity.
What is the recommended dose of Benfotiamine?
The optimal range is Not established. with a minimum effective dose of Not established (doses not specified in provided abstracts). Best taken: Not established. Upper / caution level: Not established.
What are the side effects of Benfotiamine?
Reported side effects include: Minor adverse effects reported infrequently in reviews; no major safety signals in the provided RCT abstract. Monitoring: Monitoring not specified in provided abstracts; in trials clinical safety was reported without major signals.
Who should avoid Benfotiamine?
Benfotiamine is generally not recommended for: People with prescription-medication questions should consult a clinician; specific contraindications not reported in provided abstracts.
How strong is the evidence for Benfotiamine?
Evidence level: Moderate (overall score 61/100), based on 5 indexed studies on SuppIndex.
Research & References (5)
Benfotiamine and Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer's Disease: Results of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Phase IIa Clinical Trial.
Randomised, placebo-controlled phase IIa trial in individuals with amnestic MCI or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease over 12 months comparing benfotiamine to placebo; primary outcome ADAS-Cog and secondary outcomes CDR and FDG-PET; blood AGE measured as exploratory outcome.
Novel Therapies for Kidney Disease in People With Diabetes.
Systematized narrative review of novel therapies for diabetic kidney disease; authors report results across many agents and note that benfotiamine was not associated with improved renal outcomes in the trials considered.
Vitamin B for treating peripheral neuropathy.
Systematic review of vitamin B for treating peripheral neuropathy including trials with benfotiamine; evidence base limited and mixed.
Vitamin B and its derivatives for diabetic kidney disease.
Meta-analysis of vitamin B and derivatives for diabetic kidney disease including multiple trials (one trial of benfotiamine among others); overall the pooled evidence did not establish clear benefit for DKD.
Benfotiamine reduces genomic damage in peripheral lymphocytes of hemodialysis patients.
Two consecutive supplementation studies in haemodialysis patients measuring genomic damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes and plasma markers; benfotiamine supplementation reduced micronucleus frequency and increased plasma antioxidative capacity in treated patients.
Related Ingredients
Other top-rated ingredients in Vitamins.
Vitamin D3
91/100A secosteroid prohormone converted to calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D), functioning as a nuclear hormone receptor ligand regulating >1000 genes.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
80/100Niacin is a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+), two critical coenzymes involved in over 400 enzymatic reactions in the body. These reactions are central to energy metabolism, DNA repair, and antioxidant defense. Pharmacological doses of nicotinic acid have a well-established role in lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and raising HDL cholesterol, primarily through inhibiting hepatic VLDL synthesis and reducing fatty acid mobilization. Nicotinamide, while also a source of NAD+, does not exert the same hypolipidemic effects but is crucial for various cellular processes and has shown promise in certain dermatological conditions and neurological contexts at higher doses.
Vitamin B9 (L-Methylfolate / 5-MTHF)
75/100L-Methylfolate is the principal circulating form of folate and the only form that can cross the blood-brain barrier. It plays a critical role as a coenzyme in one-carbon metabolism, particularly in the methylation cycle. Its direct bioavailability makes it a preferred supplemental form, especially when addressing folate deficiencies or supporting processes requiring efficient methylation, such as neurotransmitter synthesis and homocysteine regulation. Research indicates its efficacy in supporting mood, cardiovascular health, and cognitive function, particularly in populations with impaired folate metabolism.
Research Overview
Moderate EvidenceCite this ingredient
One-click citation export in APA, MLA, Chicago, BibTeX, or HTML. The URL below is stable and safe to link.
Stable URL
https://thesuppindex.com/ingredients/benfotiamine
SuppIndex. (2026). Benfotiamine: Evidence summary, dosage and clinical studies. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://thesuppindex.com/ingredients/benfotiamine
Based on 5 indexed studies · Evidence level: Moderate.
Goal Ratings
Stack Compatibility
No specific incompatibilities reported in the supplied abstracts.
