Summary
In a double-blind, randomized, controlled study, the effectiveness of treatment with
a combination of Benfotiamine (an Allithiamine, a lipid-soluble derivative of vitamin
B1 with high bioavailability) plus vitamin B6/B12 on objective parameters of neuropathy
was studied over a period of 12 weeks on 24 diabetic patients with diabetic polyneuropathy.
The results showed a significant improvement (p = 0.006) of nerve conduction velocity
in the peroneal nerve and a statistical trend toward improvement of the vibration
perception threshold. Long-term observation of 9 patients with verum over a period
of 9 months support the results. Therapy-specific adverse effects were not seen. The
results of this double-blind investigation, of the long-term observation and of the
reports in the literature support the contention that the neurotropic benfotiamine-vitamin
B combination represents a starting point in the treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy.
Key words
Diabetic polyneuropathy - nerve conduction velocity - vibration threshold - Benfotiamine-vitamin
B6/B12 combination - Allithiamine
