Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels become chronically high. Typically, diabetes is dangerous because it can lead to several complications, including cardiovascular problems and kidney disease. Some of these problems may be related to deficiencies in certain vitamins, such as thiamine. Thiamine supplementation represents a novel way of treating or preventing some of these diabetes-related complications.
What Is Thiamine?
Thiamine, which is also known as vitamin B-1, is a member of the B complex of vitamins. These vitamins are all essential for breaking down carbohydrates into glucose, which can then be used as fuel. Thiamine also plays an important role in maintaining the health of the eyes, skin, liver, hair and nervous system. You can get thiamine from both plant- and animal-based foods as well as from supplements.
Thiamine Deficiency and Diabetes
A lack of thiamine may be responsible for some of the health problems associated with diabetes. A study published in 2007 in "Diabetologia" examined thiamine levels in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. This study found that patients with diabetes had thiamine levels that were about 25 percent normal, which could be a result of thiamine being excreted too rapidly from the blood. This study suggests that many diabetics have an increased risk of developing thiamine deficiencies. This study also suggests that these low thiamine levels could be a factor in the increased risk of cardiovascular problems seen in diabetics.
Thiamine and Kidney Function
Many diabetics develop kidney damage which is caused by elevated blood glucose levels hurting the kidneys. High doses of thiamine may be able to help prevent this complication, also known as diabetic nephropathy. A 2003 article in "Diabetes" explains that high doses of thiamine, when combined with another compound known as benfotiamine was able to inhibit some of the conditions which lead to kidney disease and failure in diabetics.
Considerations
Although diabetes appears to increase your risk of developing a thiamine deficiency and thiamine can help prevent kidney disease, you should not take thiamine supplements without talking to your doctor first. Although thiamine is safe in high doses, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes, high doses can disrupt the levels of other B vitamins. You should always talk to your doctor before taking any kind of vitamin or supplement to make sure it is safe for you.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Thiamine
- "Diabetologia"; High prevalence of low plasma thiamine concentration in diabetes linked to a marker of vascular disease; Thornalley et. al.; October 2007.
- "Diabetes"; Prevention of Incipient Diabetic Nephropathy by High-Dose Thiamine and Benfotiamine; Babaei-Jadidii et. al.; August 2003.
