Diabetes is a condition characterized by generally raised levels of sugar (glucose) in the bloodstream. One of the problems here is that glucose can react (through a biochemical process known as glycation) to tissues in the body, which can damage those tissues and lead to complications.
Not surprisingly, glycation has been implicated as a key underlying process in long-term problems associated with diabetes, including nerve damage, visual loss, and heart disease.
However, a study just published in the journal Diabetologia has revealed another potential mechanism that causes the complications of diabetes. Researchers from the University of Essex in Colchester have discovered that diabetes sufferers are generally deficient in vitamin B1 (thiamine). Levels of B1 in the bloodstream were found to be down by three-quarters in individuals with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
The explanation for low B1 levels appears to be increased loss of B1 through the kidneys. Renal clearance (the rate a substance is removed from the body) of B1 was 24 times higher than normal in type 1 diabetics and 16 times higher than normal in type 2 diabetics.
This study is important because vitamin B1 deficiency can cause a range of symptoms, including poor appetite, fatigue, muscle aches, paralysis in the hands and/or feet, difficulty walking, and heart failure. Many of these issues are well-known complications of diabetes.
What we need are studies in which vitamin B1 has been given to see if the symptoms improve. However, the lack of these studies would not stop my suggesting that diabetics consider supplementing with this nutrient.
One approach here might be to take a B-complex supplement containing 20–25 mg of vitamin B1. Such a supplement is likely to contain vitamin B6 too, which has the capacity to suppress glycation. Interestingly, it is believed that vitamin B1 also has the capacity to inhibit glycation. A B-complex supplement is also likely to contain nutrients such as B3 and biotin, which have roles to play in blood-sugar control.
Of course, people wanting to get control of their diabetes and reduce their risks of complications would be well advised to get their diet right. What this basically means is a low glycemic index or glycemic-load diet. Foods rich in refined sugar and most starchy carbohydrates should be consumed in very limited quantities only. And activity, both aerobic and resistance types, are also advised.
References:
1. Thornalley PJ, et al. High prevalence of low plasma thiamine concentration in diabetes linked to a marker of vascular disease. Diabetologia. August 4, 2007 [Epub ahead of print]
Dr. John Briffa is a London-based doctor, author, and health writer with an interest in nutrition and natural medicine.
Dr. Briffa's website
Feeds