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Alcoholism and nutrition: a review of vitamin supplementation and treatment

In effect, chronic alcohol consumption has been demonstrated to lower vitamin D levels (inactive vitamin D (25(OH)D3) and active vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3) as well as cathelicidin/LL-37 expression [80]. Chronic drinkers are often deficient in several B vitamins including thiamin, folate, B-6, and B-12 because of toxic effects of alcohol on the mucosal lining of the stomach and small intestine that interfere with normal absorption. Has been a professional alcohol cessation therapist since 2010. He has helped over 250,000 problem Oxford House Recovery Homes: Characteristics and Effectiveness PMC drinkers using his personal experience and professional training in the field of addiction recovery. After struggling with his own alcohol addiction issues, Craig went on a journey of self-discovery and learning, studying the underlying causes of alcohol use disorders and how to overcome them. He has since become a board-certified Master Practitioner of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), The American Board of Hypnotherapy certified therapist, and an ICS-certified life coach specializing in alcohol addiction recovery.

Although small amounts of alcohol may not have a big impact on your nutritional health, many chronic, heavy drinkers struggle with significant nutrient deficiencies. Good nutrition in recovery can also boost your mental health—an important factor in maintaining your sobriety. Doctors may recommend multivitamin supplements containing B1, B2, B3, B6, and vitamin C. These supplements may be given for the initial 3–5 days of alcohol withdrawal, because the person is experiencing issues with nutrient absorption and not be getting enough of these vitamins. People who live with alcohol use disorder may develop a range of symptoms if they stop drinking suddenly. They may also experience vitamin deficiencies, as alcohol impairs the body’s ability to absorb vitamins and nutrients.

Best Vitamins for Alcohol Withdrawal

“Taking a multivitamin supplement is probably good for you, but we don’t know if it’s likely to have a big impact in people who have a healthy diet,” Caselli said. Caselli said that while he would feel comfortable recommending a daily multivitamin to older patients, he isn’t sold that it would have a significant impact on cognitive function. The first two studies evaluated volunteers over the phone or web interviews over two to three years. The results showed that people who took a multivitamin daily had higher cognitive test scores than those who took a placebo.

multivitamin for alcoholics

Benzodiazepines activate a neurotransmitter called GABA (gamma amino butyric acid), preventing seizures that can arise as fatal complications of withdrawals. The neurotransmitters in your brain produce dopamine to help you “feel good”, however, drinking interrupts these neurotransmitters. Unfortunately, regular consumption means addicts require drinking in order to feel good, although the feeling isn’t sustainable. Rest assured that there are compounds from each of these categories that work incredibly well for alleviating withdrawals and restoring healthy body chemistry.

Some Vitamins and Minerals May Reduce Alcohol Toxicity

Vitamin B1 deficiency can cause weight loss, irritability, fatigue, and in extreme cases lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, also known as wet brain. Read on to learn more about alcohol withdrawal syndrome, including the signs, symptoms, and detoxification process. In this article, I’m going to discuss the best alcohol detox supplements. We will review a number of highly effective supplements for alcoholics that include many basic vitamins and go well beyond them.

  • Caselli said that to protect against cognitive decline, it’s important that people take care of their overall health.
  • You can see a counselor to learn how to manage stress, join a support group to talk to others who understand what you’re going through, and get regular exercise to stay healthy and lower anxiety.
  • Since you’ve found yourself on this article, you’re already moving in the right direction.

If your goal is to begin an empowering, holistic adventure to start living your best life beyond booze, check out Total Alcohol Recovery 2.0. Quitting drinking is best done with support, along with a solid recovery plan. Take into account your unique situation and try to determine the factors that contributed to your drinking problem. Address these issues while being sure to repair your body from drinking. Learn more about the role of benzodiazepines for alcohol withdrawal.

Addiction Info

Niacin, or vitamin B3, can also be found in pork, as well as in fortified cereals, salmon, and swordfish. Whole grains, milk, eggs, and liver are perhaps the best food sources for B5, or Pantothenic Acid. An estimated five to 10 percent of male drinkers and three to five percent of female drinkers are dependent on alcohol. People who consume more than 12 drinks https://trading-market.org/boston-sober-homes/ a week (women) or 15 drinks a week (men) are more likely to become alcoholic. Men are more likely than women to be alcoholic, as are people who start drinking before age 16. Through alcohol intoxication, the CYP2E1-dependent system and the microsomal respiratory chain are the principal sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the hepatocytes.

Therefore, zinc replenishment may be a logical treatment approach during detox. Iron deficiency is linked to internal bleeding, which can occur in alcoholism; however, this does not happen in all drinkers. As such, not everyone who struggles with drinking will need an iron supplement. A thiamine deficiency can cause Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a potentially fatal brain disorder. It is routine to administer thiamine to anyone withdrawing from alcohol to prevent this disease.

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