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One of the most deleterious effects of “normal” aging is rising glucose (blood sugar) levels. Excess glucose floods cells throughout the body, overwhelming their metabolic machinery and increasing the mitochondrial production of free radicals. Failure to control this excess sugar can lead to numerous health issues.

Benfotiamine, a fat-soluble form of vitamin B1 (thiamine), supports healthy blood sugar metabolism and acts through several mechanisms to block the biochemical pathways by which high blood sugar wreaks havoc throughout the body.12* For example, the enzyme transketolase is critical to blood sugar metabolism. Like many enzymes, transketolase requires a co-factor. In this case, it needs assistance from thiamine. Unfortunately, thiamine is water soluble, which makes it less available to the interior of the cell. Benfotiamine is fat soluble and can easily penetrate into the inside of cells. It is also more bioavailable than the water-soluble thiamine.

In a landmark study, benfotiamine effectively increased transketolase activity in cell cultures by an astounding 300%, compared to a mere 20% for thiamine. This robust activation was sufficient to block three of the four major metabolic pathways leading to blood vessel damage.12 Benfotiamine also blocks the activation of the transcription factor known as nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), which is implicated in numerous inflammatory conditions.12 

In addition, benfotiamine reduces the advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation caused by excessively high glucose/fructose levels, especially inside endothelial, retinal, kidney and nerve cells, and maintains healthy endothelial function.13-21* Benfotiamine with thiamine is a low-cost dietary supplement that can help maintain  already-normal blood sugar levels and support the health of the nerves, kidneys, eyes, blood vessels, and heart.*