Randomised trial · The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine · 2022Abstract only

Thiamin supplements and inflammation in gestational diabetes

What it found

In 60 women with gestational diabetes, taking 100 mg of thiamin daily for 6 weeks lowered some markers of inflammation and oxidative stress compared with a placebo.

It did not change other markers.

What they found

Studies in people

hs-CRP lowered

Thiamin supplements significantly decreased serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) compared with placebo.

MDA lowered

Thiamin supplements significantly decreased plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared with placebo.

TNF-alpha gene activity

Thiamin supplements downregulated gene expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the patients.

Other markers unchanged

Thiamin supplements did not affect other biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress.

What the authors conclude

“Overall, thiamin supplementation for 6 weeks to patients with GDM significantly reduced hs-CRP and MDA levels, and gene expression of TNF-α, but did not affect other biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress.”
Amirani E, Aghadavod E, Shafabakhsh R, et al, 2022

Also in their conclusions

  • They conclude that thiamin supplementation for 6 weeks to patients with gestational diabetes significantly reduced hs-CRP and MDA levels, and gene expression of TNF-alpha.
  • They report that it did not affect other biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress.

How it was done

The authors wanted to see whether thiamin supplements affect markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in women with gestational diabetes.

They ran a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 60 patients with gestational diabetes. The women were split into two groups of 30 and took either 100 mg of thiamin a day or a placebo for 6 weeks.

What it can’t tell you

  • We summarised it from the abstract only.
  • This trial only lasted 6 weeks and included 60 women with gestational diabetes, so it cannot show what happens over longer periods or in other groups.
  • It cannot show whether these changes in markers lead to any difference in health outcomes.

The paper

Title
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of thiamin supplements in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus
Type
Randomised controlled trial
Evidence
Studies in people
Summarised from
Abstract only
Cite
Amirani E, Aghadavod E, Shafabakhsh R, et al (2022). Anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of thiamin supplements in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus. The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine. doi:10.1080/14767058.2020.1779212PubMed 32722956DOI

Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error