You know, my wife takes somewhere between 30 and 32 supplements per day. Each one was researched before starting them and a lot of thought went into whether to take them, initially. Benfotiamine is a good example. Peripheral neuropathy started for her in Feb. 2014. Somewhere around late 2014 or perhaps early 2015 she started on Benfotiamine from Life Extension 250 mg twice a day. I don't remember her ever being aware of it helping her, but the literature was so clearly in favor of it's benefits for neuropathy sufferers it just seemed important to include in her regimen. After a couple years she decided to drop it out (to cut costs probably) and so for some period, perhaps a year or more, she did not take it, and she noticed no change after stopping it. Then one day I read some article somewhere that really extolled the benefits of Benfotiamine for neuropathy. I got super charged up again for her to take it and I convinced her to start it again. Since then she has taken it every day.

I am wondering just how to evaluate a supplement which is almost universally extolled, and where many testimonials have been given by others as to their effectiveness, and so many reasons are given as to their usefulness in helping, but which no discernible benefit can be noticed for oneself. My wife and I both want for her to have everything and anything that is beneficial to her. Perhaps Benfotiamine does do something positive for her that she can not discern. But the stuff is not cheap, and I estimated once that we spend around at least $800/month (approx. $10,000/year) on her supplements alone. Many of them seem well worth the time, trouble and expense. Some, like Benfotiamine do not provide any indication one way or the other, at least not overtly. I am wondering whether she should continue taking it anyway? Can something be very good for you but be so subtle that you can't even notice it? (She takes a number of things I would put in the same category as Benfotiamine, i.e. no idea whether they help).

Any ideas or input welcome, this is a real quandary! Thanks, Hank