One in ten Americans, approximately 35 million people, have peripheral neuropathy (PN). This is an epidemic by any definition. Over the past decades the incidence of PN has grown dramatically as it parallels the growing incidence of diabesity. Podiatrists and other health care providers find themselves treating an ever-increasing number of these clinically difficult cases. There are over 150 known causes of PN and, short of an extensive workup for all patients presenting with neuropathic symptoms, many physicians opt to manage these patients via targeted nutrition. The question becomes: which nutrient(s) have the best chance of helping?
Of the 150 possible causes of PN, it is estimated that 50% of these cases are a consequence of diabetes, prediabetes (a prodrome of diabetes) and/or Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Diabetes and people with AUD share a common nutritional deficit-a high prevalence of vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency. B1 deficiency also appears to be a possible factor in prediabetic PN. B1 deficiency is a well-documented cause of PN and its reversal has been shown to improve neuropathic symptomatology in diabetics and people with AUD. Improvement of neuropathic symptoms in these patients with the proper use of benfotiamine, a highly bioactive form of vitamin B1, is well documented and often occurs within 30 days. The impressive therapeutic benefits achieved with benfotiamine in the treatment of PN are most likely due to its lipid solubility and greatly improved absorption as compared to water soluble B1.
Sixteen years ago, I had the great fortune to introduce benfotiamine into the US medical community. I have since watched its use in the treatment of PN grow exponentially. Its success in safely and rapidly reversing vitamin B1 deficiency in people with PN has led to its incorporation into the treatment protocols for an ever-increasing number of physicians. Benfotiamine is extraordinarily safe and not associated with any significant adverse effects. Many physicians report a greater than 50% success rate with the use of benfotiamine in the treatment of PN associated with diabetes or AUD.
The use of benfotiamine for the treatment of neuropathic symptoms is currently employed by thousands of physicians. It has benefited tens of thousands of patients and is an ideal option for physicians and other health care providers looking to initiate nutritional therapy for their patients with PN.
Please feel free to contact me at 561-549-9099 or realmlabs123@gmail.com if you would like to discuss how to incorporate benfotiamine into your treatment protocol for PN.
