Evidence supporting the use of: Sulbutiamine
For the health condition: Nervous Exhaustion
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
Sulbutiamine is a synthetic derivative of thiamine (vitamin B1) developed in Japan as a treatment for asthenia (abnormal physical weakness or lack of energy), which is often described in the literature as "nervous exhaustion." Its use in this context is supported by some scientific studies, though the evidence is limited and not robust. Several double-blind, placebo-controlled trials conducted in the late 20th century—primarily in France and Japan—have shown that sulbutiamine can improve symptoms of fatigue in patients with infectious, psychological, or physical origins of asthenia. For example, a 1999 study (Lemoine et al.) found that sulbutiamine improved the symptoms of asthenia compared to placebo in a primary care setting. Another study demonstrated benefits in patients recovering from illness or surgery that left them fatigued or exhausted. The proposed mechanism involves enhancement of thiamine-dependent processes in the brain, potentially improving nerve cell energy metabolism and neurotransmitter function. However, the total number of high-quality, modern clinical studies is small, and meta-analyses are lacking. Most research comes from decades-old literature and may not fully meet contemporary standards for clinical trial design. While sulbutiamine is still used in some countries for asthenia-like syndromes, more rigorous research is needed to confirm its efficacy and define its role in managing nervous exhaustion.
Other ingredients used for Nervous Exhaustion
Albiziaamber
ambergris
amino acids
Anemone
animal protein
Aralia
ashwagandha
astragaloside
astragalus
ba ji tian
bee pollen
Beef liver
betony
Black Hellebore
blessed thistle
blue flag
bone marrow
brahmi
caterpillar mushroom
catnip
Chinese salvia root
Codonopsis
Convolvulus pluricaulis
Convolvulus prostratus
cordyceps
Cynomorium
deer root
deer velvet
egg
eleuthero
elk antler
Eurycoma Longifolia
frankincense
GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)
Gerovital H3
gotu kola
Hellebore
jiaogulan
L-tryptophan
l-tyrosine
licorice root
Ligustrum
lion's mane
liquid liver fractions
Lycium
maca
magnesium
maral root
Motherwort
pollen
reishi mushroom
Rhodiola
royal jelly
Sarivan
Schizandrol A
Scleranthus annus
Spikenard
spruce
Sulbutiamine
sunflower
Thiamin (vitamin B1)
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
vitamin D
Waterhyssop
Wheat
wheat germ
Withanolides
Zinc
Other health conditions supported by Sulbutiamine
Concentration (poor)Dementia
Depression
Energy (lack of)
Fatigue
Memory and Brain Function
Nervous Exhaustion
