Thiamine's Mood-Mending Qualities
http://www.newhope.c...99/thiamine.cfm
Dysautonomia, A Heuristic Approach to a Revised Model for Etiology of Disease
http://ecam.oxfordjo...t/full/nem064v1
A Review of the Biochemistry, Metabolism and Clinical Benefits of Thiamin(e) and Its Derivatives
http://ecam.oxfordjo...abstract/3/1/49
Thiamine tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfi de: a little known therapeutic agent
http://journals.inde....php?ICID=11763
The story goes something like this: There are two classes of fat soluble B1, disulfide "allithiamines" and S-acyl-thiamine derivatives. Benfotiamine is of the S-acyl form while tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide (TTFD) obviously is a disulfide and the only one considered to be an "Allithiamine". According to the Japanese guys that discovered these derivatives way back when, it's the disulfides that are more biologically active. They both work, but the TTFD are better. I haven't looked this up, but if benfotiamine has AGEs inhibiting properties, allithiamines should possess this same quality. Also, allithiamines and NOT S-acyl derivatives also have additional actiona like heavy metal chelation, anti-inflammatory and detoxifying effects against trichloroethylene and potassium cyanide.
This is from the 3rd link above:
"Although a series of S-acyl derivatives were studied, these investigators found that the disulfides had the best therapeutic effect "
Benfotiamine is a S-acyl derivative while TTFD falls under the disulfides. TTFD is also called fursultiamine.
"They concluded that thiamine enhances elimination of lead from the body and that this feature may be beneficial in chelation therapy."
This is way cool, but....
"It was noted that S-acyl derivatives are devoid of the preventive effect against trichloroethylene, potassium cyanide or lead intoxication that characterized their investigation of thiamine propyl disulfide, one of the early disulfide derivatives."
So, only the TTFD form can also chelate lead and other nasties from the body while benfotiamine doesn't have this quality.
Thiamine DerivativesMany thiamine derivatives have been synthesized after the discovery of allithiamine (97) (Figs 2 and 3) Most of the original studies were performed in Japan and the details were published in 1965 (98). Although a series of S-acyl derivatives were studied, these investigators found that the disulfides had the best therapeutic effect (99). It was noted that S-acyl derivatives are devoid of the preventive effect against trichloroethylene, potassium cyanide or lead intoxication that characterized their investigation of thiamine propyl disulfide, one of the early disulfide derivatives. These early investigators ascribed this failure to prevent toxicity to the absence of the S–S bond. The disulfides are easily reduced to thiamine in the presence of cystine or glutathione while the S-acyl derivatives require enzymatic reduction in liver or kidney.
There is also a discussion whether or not benfotiamine delivers thiamine into the cell passively like TTFD or if it's dumped outside of it necessitating a transport vehicle.
Then it gets interesting....
In response to an AD for Benfotiamine by AOR, Dr. Lonsdale wrote this:
http://findarticles....ag=artBody;col1
AOR's response:
http://findarticles....ag=artBody;col1 (in my opinion, this reponse didn't say much)
The good Doc. then countered again:
http://findarticles....ag=artBody;col1
..and that's the last of this communication I could find.
I have read from other Dysautonomia sufferers that they only seem to benefit from using allithiamine (TTFD) transdermal cream
http://www.ourkidsas...CFRxNagodjS3JEg
and get no improvement from using Benfotiamine. A big problem with the cream is that it will make you and your clothes stink of garlic. Actually, this is a big problem and the main reason I went for benfotiamine instead. But now I wonder If I would benefit more from using the cream versus benfo.
I also found TTFD in pill form by Ecological formulas (who also makes the cream) and I would assume that it's as effective as the cream, but I can't find any data or anecdotes to support this.
http://www.fubaoheal...LITHIAMINE.html
Any thoughts on this?