thiamine deficiency in type 2 diabetics

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This article originally posted December 16, 2008 and appeared in

Issue 447

Thiamine Reverses Early Diabetic Kidney Disease in 35% of Type 2 Patients

Researchers have discovered high doses of thiamine - vitamin B1 - can

reverse the onset of early diabetic kidney disease.

Kidney disease, or diabetic nephropathy, develops progressively in patients

with type 2 diabetes. Early development of kidney disease is assessed by a

high

excretion rate of the protein albumin from the body in the urine, known as

microalbuminuria.

The research team led by Dr Naila Rabbani and Professor J Thornalley at

Warwick Medical School,has discovered taking high oral doses of thiamine can

dramatically decrease the excretion of albumin and reverse early stage

kidney disease in type 2 diabetes patients.

In a paper published online, the team show 300 mg of thiamine taken orally

each day for three months reduced the rate of albumin excretion in type 2

diabetes

patients. The albumin excretion rate was decreased by 41% from the value at

the start of the study. The results also showed 35% of patients with

microalbuminuria

saw a return to normal urinary albumin excretion after being treated with

thiamine.

Forty patients with type 2 diabetes aged between 35 and 65 years old took

part in the trial. They were randomly assigned a placebo or 3 x 100mg

tablets

of thiamine a day for three months.

The Warwick research group has already conclusively proven that type 2

diabetes patients have a thiamine deficiency. In an earlier study led by

Professor

Thornalley at Warwick Medical School, the research team showed that

thiamine deficiency could be key to a range of vascular problems for

diabetes

patients.

Dr Rabbani said: " This study once again highlights the importance of Vitamin

B1 and we need to increase awareness. Professor Thornalley and I are

planning

a foundation at the University of Warwick to further education and research

in thiamine deficiency. "