Alcohol depletes and inhibits the absorption of vital nutrients, including vitamins. This makes a person with alcohol use disorder more likely to have one or more vitamin deficiencies. People with alcohol use disorder are more likely to have a less nutritious diet, which exacerbates vitamin deficiencies. Alcohol tends to affect the absorption of all vitamins, but particularly vitamin B12, which depletes even with moderate alcohol use. Certain vitamins are vital to repairing and building cells required for bodily functions.
Alcohol Use Disorder: Nutrition During Recovery
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Without it, you can have strong cravings, mood swings, and hostile behavior. We get amino acids from protein in foods like meat, dairy products, and nuts, along with some grains and beans. Too much alcohol can cause inflammation in your stomach lining and pancreas. It also affects your body’s ability to absorb B vitamins and folic acid. It can trigger irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, and other gastrointestinal illnesses, too.
Treatment for Vitamin Deficiency and Vitamin B Supplementation: Ensuring Safety Measures
In the journey towards recovery from alcoholism, replenishing your body’s nutrients is crucial. A lack of B vitamins can lead to fatigue, memory problems, and reduced alertness, so ensuring your body gets enough B vitamins is important during alcohol withdrawal and recovery. These supplements can provide essential nutrients, promote cognitive function, reduce cravings, and offer antioxidant support to counteract the damaging effects of alcohol. When you’re in recovery from alcohol addiction, nutrition can play a major role in helping your system bounce back. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps reduce stress and inflammation caused by alcohol abuse.
The Role of Vitamins in the Body
They’ll help you create a diet that addresses your unique health situation, weight, and personal diet needs. Ask your doctor for a referral, or contact your local hospital, community health center, or university. There are holistic addiction treatment centers and substance use treatment programs that emphasize nutrition education, too. DL-phenylalanine is an essential amino acid which plays an important role in the functioning of your nervous system. If your body is deficient in this amino acid, it’s common to experience fatigue, confusion, memory problems, a decrease in alertness, and to have a reduced appetite. D-phenylalanine also slows the breakdown of endorphins, which act as the body’s natural painkiller, prolonging their release into the body.
Iron and Calcium for Blood and Bones
And supplementation should be considered for the effective treatment of drug abuse and addiction (51-54). Lastly, in abstinent alcoholics, elevated omega-3 intake reduces stress and cortisol, and omega-3 fatty acids significantly lower the desire for alcohol in mice (30, 31). And one study found that giving omega-3 fatty https://ecosoberhouse.com/ acids to substance abusers significantly reduced their anxiety (22). And even if you don’t struggle with addiction, these nutrients are still great for optimal brain function and mental health. In addition to vitamin A and vitamin C deficiencies, alcoholism can also contribute to the development of specific conditions.
- Lastly, in abstinent alcoholics, elevated omega-3 intake reduces stress and cortisol, and omega-3 fatty acids significantly lower the desire for alcohol in mice (30, 31).
- It also promotes healthy sleep and improves mood, making it easier to overcome alcohol cravings.
- Severe deficiency, called scurvy, may result in anemia, bruising, and dental issues.
- Thiamine is crucial for proper brain function and energy production.
Why Do We Need Supplements For Alcohol Detox?
- These 9 nutrients, vitamins and supplements have helped me minimize withdrawal symptoms, overcome my addictions, and get on with my life.
- Oxidative stress can change neuronal pathways and cause addictive behaviour.
- This article will outline the most essential vitamins for alcohol addiction recovery and food sources of these vitamins.
- Some studies also show that chronic alcohol intake can affect the gut and lead to digestive problems.
- Many treatment protocols for AWS involve supportive care as the person withdraws to ease the discomfort of the symptoms.
- Thiamine deficiency is particularly dangerous, as it increases the likelihood of developing neurological conditions like Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome.
The good news is that, over time, you can repair your liver, regulate amino acids and retrain your brain to produce dopamine. In a related article, I share why these are the best vitamins and minerals for alcohol detox as well as some signs of deficiency. In fact, it is estimated that an alcohol abuser typically best vitamins for recovering alcoholics gets 50 percent or more of total daily calories from alcohol. Any food calories are typically consumed in the form of junk foods. Unfortunately, the calories gained from alcohol and junk food are “empty calories.” That is, they are calories lacking nutrients and are of little value to the body.
- During alcohol withdrawal, DL-Phenylalanine may help reduce cravings and improve mood.
- They can provide personalized recommendations for supplementation and ensure safe and effective usage.
- Thiamine deficiency can lead to severe neurological impairments, making supplementation vital during the recovery process.
- This condition can cause confusion, memory loss, and other neurological problems.
