Effects of benfotiamine on the insulin resistance state, some pro- and anti-inflammatory factors content in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiac autonomic neuropathy

Aim. The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of benfotiamine (BFT) on the insulin resistance state, the content of some pro- and anti-inflammatory factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and advanced stage of cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN). Material and methods. 40 patients with T2DM and advanced stage of CAN, aged between 50-59 yrs with disease term 1-6 yrs and average glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 7,16%±0,19% were examined. Patients were divided into 2 groups. The patients from first group received standard hypoglycemic treatment (n=19, control) for three mo. To patients from the second (n=21, treatment group) was prescribed 300 mg/q.d. of the BFT in addition for three mo. The levels of blood glucose, HbA1c, immunoreactive insulin (IRI), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), leptin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukins (IL)-6, IL-8 and IL-10 were determined. The Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) insulin resistance (IR) index (HOMA-IR) parameters, TNF-alpha/IL-10 ratio were calculated. Results. Treatment with BFT led to significant decrease in the concentration of IRI [Δ=-12,74%±1,42% (p 0,05). Conclusion. Obtained data may indicate a decrease in the activity of the proinflammatory link of the immune response and allow us to consider BFT as a promising pharmacological agent in the complex treatment of the advanced stage of CAN.