Diabetes complications reduced with vitamin B1
Added 12.01.2009
As many as 19 million people across Europe suffer from diabetes and this number is projected to almost double in the next 10 years. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes result in complications, such as heart problems, blindness and kidney damage but the latest research in this field may just have found a breakthrough discovery that could reduce diabetes-related deaths considerably.
What do diabetics have in common?
A recent scientific study has found that diabetics share a common factor: they are all deficient in vitamin B1. In fact, blood concentration of vitamin B1 was 76 percent lower in type 1 sufferers and 75 percent lower in type 2 sufferers compared to non-diabetics.What does this mean?
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is a water-soluble vitamin that is involved in the conversion of glucose (blood sugar) to energy and plays an essential role in many functions including our circulatory system. Vitamin B1 deficiency increases the risk of cardiovascular problems because it affects the function of specialised cells within the body's vascular system. This in turn leads to an increased risk of heart attacks and stroke, which in diabetic patients, accounts for about 80 percent of deaths. Risk of death from post-diabetes complications can be significantly reduced with vitamin B1 supplementation.The study also found that a lack of vitamin B1 was linked to other post-diabetes complications such as kidney damage, damage to the retina of the eye and damage to the nerves in the arms and legs.
Kidney damage in diabetes patients reversed with vitamin B1
Often with diabetes, the body's small blood vessels become damaged. Kidney damage in diabetics can occur when the blood vessels affected are the ones supplying blood to the kidneys. A malfunction of the kidneys means that important nutrients such as proteins and vitamins are being removed from the body (removed from the blood and excreted through urine) at an increased rate. What can be done? Well, a new study shows that high dose vitamin B1 can reverse the kidney damage associated with diabetes by restoring the correct functioning of the kidneys so that more proteins and vitamins stay in the blood and by helping to protect cells against the harmful effects of high blood sugar levels.References:
Adams, M. "Vitamin B1 reverses kidney damage in diabetics, so why won't doctors recommend it?" Natural News. December 29, 2008.
Martin, D. "Vitamin breakthrough could cut diabetes deaths." The Daily Mail. August 7, 2007.
Dr. Bo Nielsen's comments:
This very important study confirms what we already know from other research studies. This study shows how important basic vitamins and minerals are if you want to avoid and even treat diabetes. What many people do not realise is how important it is to get sufficient amounts of these basic nutrients. Unfortunately, most of the multi vitamin-mineral supplements in the market only contain a fraction of what is needed to prevent common diseases. The best advice is to look for a supplement in which vitamins and minerals are separated in order to ensure the best effect.
