A lipid-soluble form of vitamin B1; corrects defective replication of, and prevents formation of AGEs in, HUVECs grown under high glucose conditions; increases NCV and prevents microalbuminuria, proteinuria, and formation of AGEs in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes; reduces levels of aspartate and alanine aminotransferase and lipid peroxidation in livers in a rat model of acute ethanol intoxication; reduces the number of amyloid plaques and amount of phosphorylated tau in brains in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease