From the FDA Drug Label
The usual adult dose is 7.5mg to 15mg given daily with or without food or as directed under medical supervision. The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Benfotiamine is a highly effective supplement for patients with diabetes, particularly for preventing and treating diabetic neuropathy, as it reduces pain and improves nerve function by blocking harmful biochemical pathways, as shown in a study published in 2017 1. The benefits of benfotiamine for patients with diabetes are numerous, including:
- Reducing the harmful effects of high blood sugar on nerves, blood vessels, and kidneys
- Preventing and treating diabetic neuropathy by reducing pain and improving nerve function
- Blocking biochemical pathways that cause damage, including the advanced glycation end-product (AGE) pathway and the hexosamine pathway
- Helping with other diabetes-related issues like retinopathy and nephropathy by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation
- Having better bioavailability than regular thiamine, meaning the body can absorb and use it more effectively Some key studies that support the benefits of benfotiamine include:
- A 2008 study published in Diabetologia, which found that benfotiamine plus alpha-lipoic acid normalized complication-causing pathways in type 1 diabetes 2
- A 2010 study published in Pharmacological Research, which highlighted the multifaceted therapeutic potential of benfotiamine, including its anti-AGE property and non-AGE-dependent pharmacological actions 3
- A 2005 study published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, which found that benfotiamine improved symptoms of polyneuropathy in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy 4 Overall, the evidence suggests that benfotiamine is a valuable supplement for patients with diabetes, and its use should be considered as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, particularly for preventing and treating diabetic neuropathy, as recommended in a 2017 study 1.