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Role of the Synthetic B1 Vitamin Sulbutiamine on Health

Starling-Soares, Bernardo ; Carrera-Bastos, Pedro LU and Bettendorff, Lucien (2020) In Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism 2020.
Abstract

Sulbutiamine is a thiamine derivative developed in Japan in the mid-60's as a beriberi treatment drug. Since then, different potential applications have been described. For instance, there is some evidence that sulbutiamine can have anti-fatigue, nootropic, and antioxidant effects, which led to its use as a sport supplement (although some authors argue it is actually a masking doping strategy). Moreover, this molecule has been proposed as a possible treatment for some microsporidial infections and even for certain types of cancer. Despite these potential effects, sulbutiamine is still a relatively unknown molecule, which justifies the present review, where we discuss its history and the existing literature on its health applications. We... (More)

Sulbutiamine is a thiamine derivative developed in Japan in the mid-60's as a beriberi treatment drug. Since then, different potential applications have been described. For instance, there is some evidence that sulbutiamine can have anti-fatigue, nootropic, and antioxidant effects, which led to its use as a sport supplement (although some authors argue it is actually a masking doping strategy). Moreover, this molecule has been proposed as a possible treatment for some microsporidial infections and even for certain types of cancer. Despite these potential effects, sulbutiamine is still a relatively unknown molecule, which justifies the present review, where we discuss its history and the existing literature on its health applications. We conclude that there is a great potential for sulbutiamine use, well beyond its first described function (to increase thiamine tissue concentration). Indeed, new mechanisms of action have been found, mainly associated with its derivatives. Nevertheless, and although the research on sulbutiamine started 50 years ago, only a limited number of studies were conducted during this time frame. As so, methodological concerns need to be addressed and new studies are necessary, especially randomized controlled trials. Only then will the full potential of this versatile molecule be identified.

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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism
volume
2020
article number
9349063
publisher
Hindawi Limited
external identifiers
  • pmid:32399290
  • scopus:85085006626
ISSN
2090-0724
DOI
10.1155/2020/9349063
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
99ff1da2-e7ee-403c-9607-9d5e72ce0157
date added to LUP
2020-06-25 14:01:35
date last changed
2024-09-05 00:33:22
@article{99ff1da2-e7ee-403c-9607-9d5e72ce0157,
  abstract     = {{<p>Sulbutiamine is a thiamine derivative developed in Japan in the mid-60's as a beriberi treatment drug. Since then, different potential applications have been described. For instance, there is some evidence that sulbutiamine can have anti-fatigue, nootropic, and antioxidant effects, which led to its use as a sport supplement (although some authors argue it is actually a masking doping strategy). Moreover, this molecule has been proposed as a possible treatment for some microsporidial infections and even for certain types of cancer. Despite these potential effects, sulbutiamine is still a relatively unknown molecule, which justifies the present review, where we discuss its history and the existing literature on its health applications. We conclude that there is a great potential for sulbutiamine use, well beyond its first described function (to increase thiamine tissue concentration). Indeed, new mechanisms of action have been found, mainly associated with its derivatives. Nevertheless, and although the research on sulbutiamine started 50 years ago, only a limited number of studies were conducted during this time frame. As so, methodological concerns need to be addressed and new studies are necessary, especially randomized controlled trials. Only then will the full potential of this versatile molecule be identified.</p>}},
  author       = {{Starling-Soares, Bernardo and Carrera-Bastos, Pedro and Bettendorff, Lucien}},
  issn         = {{2090-0724}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  publisher    = {{Hindawi Limited}},
  series       = {{Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism}},
  title        = {{Role of the Synthetic B1 Vitamin Sulbutiamine on Health}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/9349063}},
  doi          = {{10.1155/2020/9349063}},
  volume       = {{2020}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}