As you probably already know, chronic alcohol inhibits the absorption and use of vital nutrients, such as folic acid, zinc, vitamin B12, and vitamin B1, or thiamine. Alcohol consumption can cause deficiencies in vitamins A, C, D, E, K and B. Excessive alcohol consumption causes inflammatory lesions on the walls of the stomach and small intestine, reducing the ability of mucosal cells to absorb nutrients, including vitamin B, from food. Vitamins help regulate many physiological processes in the body that are essential for maintaining normal growth and metabolism.
Thiamine (vitamin B) is involved in the metabolism of proteins and fats and in the formation of hemoglobin. The decrease in hepatic stores of vitamins, such as vitamin A (and the increase in the excretion of nutrients, such as fat), indicate a misuse of nutrients by alcoholics (. Increasing your intake of nutrient-rich foods can help you comprehensively recover lost or poorly absorbed vitamins in the body. Vitamin B protects the liver from damage caused by excessive alcohol consumption and can help stabilize mood swings and cognitive function.
Long-term drinkers with nutritional problems tend to suffer from more deficiencies than vitamin B alone. Doses of nutritional supplements, such as vitamin A, that exceed the normally prescribed levels can cause an overdose. By affecting the absorption, metabolism and utilization of vitamins, chronic excessive alcohol consumption can cause vitamin deficiencies. Because alcoholics tend to eat poorly (often eating less than the amounts of food needed to provide sufficient carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins A and C, B vitamins, and minerals such as calcium and iron (6,9,2), it is a matter of great concern that the effects of alcohol on food digestion and nutrient utilization may lead a mildly malnourished person to severe malnutrition.
Vitamin B1 deficiency can be treated by stopping drinking alcohol (with professional help), improving nutritional factors, and taking B1 supplements. Continuous alcohol consumption for long periods of time causes a continuous reduction in vitamin A levels in the liver over time. Beyond the effects on the stomach lining, high alcohol consumption often acts as an appetite suppressant, reducing the intake of vitamins and minerals from the general diet. Techniques for assessing nutritional status include taking body measurements such as weight, height, mass and thickness of the skin fold to estimate fat stores, and performing blood tests to measure circulating proteins, vitamins and minerals.
Vitamin A deficiency may be associated with night blindness, and vitamin D deficiency is associated with bone softening (.
