Heart attack victims could boost their chances of survival thanks to a vitamin in everyday foods such as Marmite, experts believe.
A derivative of vitamin B1 speeds up the healing of tissue following heart damage, a study suggests.
Separate research found the substance - called benfotiamine - can prevent heart failure as a complication of diabetes.
The discoveries mean a supplement containing benfotiamine could become part of diabetes treatment, researchers said.
Vitamin B1 is also known as thiamin and is found in many common foods.
Good sources other than Marmite include the vegetarian ingredient Quorn, pork, milk, cheese, eggs, dried and fresh fruits and wholegrain breads.
Both pieces of research were by a team from Bristol University. They gave benfotiamine to mice, some of which had diabetes and some of which did not.
In the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, the researchers said treatment “markedly improved the survival of both non-diabetic and diabetic mice” compared with those given no treatment.
In the separate study, the team found that treating diabetic mice with benfotiamine from the early stages of the condition could delay progression to heart failure. - Daily Mail