Reports not available

Adjuvant for diabetes - in management of diabetic microangiopathy

L-carnosine and benfotiamine administration appear to be safe with no signs of toxicity

None reported

Pharmacology-

Benfotiamine a synthetic variant of Vitamin B1 prevents nerve and blood vessel damage caused by diabetes. It exerts beneficial effect via number of mechanisms. In case of diabetes it increases transketolase activity ( an important enzyme in glucose metabolism) a a result blocks three of the major pathways leading to hyperglycaemic damage. befotiamine also normalizes protein kinase C PKC activity and prevents nuclear factor- kappa B activation in the retina of diabetes L-carnosine is a dipeptide composed of the covalently bonded amino acids alanine and histidine and is found in the brain, heart., skin, muscles, kidneys and stomach. L-carnosine is natirally produced in the body by the enzyme carnosine synthetase.

Pharmacokinetics-

L-carnosine is well absorbed up to 70% in the small intestine,. Carnosine is well distributed into the muscles, brain, and other tissues. Benfotamine is well absorbed via the passive diffusion through intestinal mucosa and is rapidly converted to biologically active thiamine. Peak plasma concentrations of oral benfotiamine administration is at least 5 times greater than those observed after oral administration of water soluble thiamine salts.

Rationale for combination-

Numerous advancement in diabetes management has found that nutritional therapy effectively lowers blood sugar and prevents microvascular complications of diabetes. In this regard L- carnosine plus befotiamine is found to be an adjuvant for diabetes in the management of diabetic microangiopathy.