I am passionate about prevention of diabetes and diabetic complications. I developed AGEomics Technology during my PhD and applied the technology to understand the mechanisms of complex disorders such as diabetes, Diabetic complications, arthritis and Autism. I am known for my research in diabetes, dicarbonyl(sugar) stress, oxidative stress, and metabolic disorders. I worked studied and worked at University of Essex, University of Warwick (UK) and Qatar University where I lead investigations into advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their role in metabolic disorders.
Research on Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
I contributed to studies on thiamine (vitamin B1) in the context of diabetes and kidney disease. Some key aspects of my work include:
- Thiamine Deficiency in Diabetes
– Our research suggests that high blood glucose levels in diabetes can lead to thiamin deficiency due to increased urinary excretion.
– Thiamine is crucial for glucose metabolism, and its deficiency may worsen diabetic complications. - Thiamine and Diabetic Nephropathy (Kidney Disease)
– I explored how thiamine supplementation might help protect kidney function in diabetic patients by reducing dicarbonyl stress and AGE formation.
– In a clinical (double blind placebo controlled) study we found using high-dose thiamin (300 mg/day) could reverse early-stage kidney damage in type 2 diabetes patients (Rabbani et al., Diabetologia, 2009). - Mechanisms of Thiamine Protection
– Thiamine acts as a cofactor for enzymes like transketolase, which helps divert harmful glucose byproducts (like triosephosphates and other glucose intermediates in glycolysis) away from damaging pathways such as polyol pathways, hexosamine pathways, mitochondria dysfunction and AGE formation.
– Her work highlights thiamine’s role in reducing inflammation and dicarbonyl stress in diabetic complications.
– in pre-clinical study Rabbani-Thornalley team found that Thiamin prodrug Benfotiamine failed to correct diabetic kidney disease. - Key Publication
– “High-dose thiamine therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria” (Diabetologia, 2009)
– also see the publications page - Conclusion
Our research suggests that thiamine supplementation could be a potential therapeutic strategy for prevention of early stages of diabetic kidney disease by addressing metabolic dysregulation and dicarbonyl stress. My work bridges nutritional biochemistry and clinical medicine, offering insights into how simple nutritional interventions might mitigate complex conditions.