Benfotiamine - A New Tool In Preventing Diabetic Complications?Written by Zach Malott
Benfotiamine made headlines globally in 2003 when researchers released information about a study that was conducted at The Einstein College of Medicine in New York. The bottom line of this study was that a substance of allithiamine group of naturally occurring thiamine-derived compounds had positive effects on neuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy and heart/circulatory problems in diabetics.Benfotiamine research has suggested that there are beneficial effects for diabetics and non-diabetics also. These benefits include sciatica, vascular health, general nerve health, lower blood pressure, grant cellular protection, anti-aging, fibromyalgia, prevention of lactic acidosis, and treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Any condition that is result of a thiamine deficiency will also respond quite well to benfotiamine. Of course, any bodily function that is improved by a therapeutic level of thiamine will certainly be enhanced by benfotiamine, since benfotiamine is perhaps most effective form of thiamine. Benfotiamine, a derivative of thiamine (vitamin B1), was an invention of Japanese scientists and there is a U.S. patent on benfotiamine that was entered by Japanese back in 1962. Japanese benfotiamine is considered purest source of bulk benfotiamine and is favored by manufacturers globally who insist on highest quality in their benfotiamine product. The safety of benfotiamine use has been proven over 12 years of use in Europe for treatment and prevention of diabetic complications among others. The original Japanese patent on benfotiamine gave information that it is even less toxic than common vitamin B1 (thiamine hydrochloride usually). Orally ingested vitamin B1 has a long history of use as an oral supplement without reported adverse effects. Due to its therapeutic action in some frequently observed clinical syndromes, thiamine hydrochloride has been advised and used over a long period of time. There are no reports of adverse effects of oral thiamine, even at dosages of several hundred milligrams a day (SCOGS, 1978; DHEW, 1979; Marks, 1989). Benfotiamine has a very good safety record. To date, there has been no reports of any known, negative interactions with any medications. To contrary, some medications actually can cause a thiamine deficiency in some people and benfotiamine could correct this serious situation.
| | An Overview of The Social Security Disability Claims Process Written by SS Home
The Social Security Disability claims process can have many steps depending on how many times your claim is rejected and you appeal. Overall, there are five stages, each with its own format, rules, and decision makers. The first four stages are within Social Security Administration, and last stage is independent of Social Security. More resourcesThe initial stage takes place after you file a Social Security Disability claim with Social Security office. Your original claim is reviewed by a disability examiner working at Disability Determination agency in your state. This disability examiner will review your file, medical records, and other important information and consult with a doctor to determine if you are disabled and eligible for Social Security benefits. Unfortunately, claimant will typically not know identity of his or her disability examiner, and will have no personal contact with examiner. Overall, 60% of claims at this stage are rejected. If disability examiner rejects your claim, which is very typical, you can request an appeal called “reconsideration.” Reconsideration, as name suggests, is less like an appeal and more like asking Social Security to take a second look at your claim and “reconsider” its decision. As in initial stage, another disability examiner in your local Disability Determination agency will review your claim and issue a decision. Also, as before, claimant will not have any personal contact with examiner. Generally, 80% of claims at this stage are rejected. If disability examiner rejects your claim after reconsideration stage, claimant can again appeal and request a hearing with an administrative law judge. At hearing stage claimant will actually takes his case before a live judge in hopes of receiving a different decision. Though this might seem intimidating, this is typically first stage in which claimant will be able to present his case and talk with decision maker. The hearing is informal compared to most legal settings, and typically will include claimant, claimant’s attorney, administrative law judge, his secretary, and a vocational expert to testify as to claimant’s disability and limitations. The hearing will not have a jury or an audience, and Social Security will not be represented by an attorney. After reviewing claim, judge will determine if claim is valid independent of prior decisions of disability examiners. Statistically, over half of claims at this stage are successful.
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