Alcohol's Effect On The Body

Three types of malnutrition may be observed in alcoholics, primary malnutrition due to a decreased intake of nutrients, secondary malnutrition caused by an impairment in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, and tertiary malnutrition due to an alteration in the ability to convert nutrients to their active coenzyme forms, resulting in nutritional complications that potentiate the direct effects of alcohol.

Excessive drinking depletes the body of nutrients leading to kidney damage and cirrhosis of the liver, and ultimately to death. Alcohol has no net benefit to health and is not an essential nutrient in any way. If you can not avoid drinking, do so in moderation. One or two drinks per day are not usually associated with health risks.

Inflammation of the pancreas and damage to the heart and brain are some of the complications of drinking. Studies have shown that alcohol is linked to risks of heart attacks, hypertension, haemorrhagic stroke, cirrhosis of the liver, inflammation of the pancreas, violence, suicide, birth defects and overall mortality.

Impairments in the metabolism of vitamin A have been reported in alcoholics. Even moderate alcoholic disease is associated with severely decreased vitamin A concentrations.

Riboflavin, niacin, vitamin D and vitamin E deficiency, as well as lower serum levels of ascorbic acid have been documented in alcoholics.

Alcohol also inhibits the absorption of vitamin B6 and its release from the liver. Folate deficiency is probably the most common vitamin deficiency among alcoholics. Alcohol directly inhibits enzymes involved in folate metabolism and increases urinary excretion of folate.

Thiamine deficiency is observed frequently among alcoholics in whom decreased consumption and absorption and an increased requirement all appear to play a role in the development of a deficiency.

Ascorbic acid has been shown to be potentially useful in alcohol detoxification. Studies of healthy men indicated that supplementation with 5 grams ascorbic acid daily for 2 weeks before alcohol dosing significantly enhanced the clearance of alcohol from the blood.

Nutritional changes have been used during the withdrawal or detoxification stage of drug cessation treatment and for renutrition to enhance withdrawal from alcohol. Dietary supplementation (particularly of tyrosine and tryptophan) helped restore brain chemicals modified by alcohol. Because of multiple nutrient deficiencies associated with alcoholism, heavy drinkers who quit alcohol should supplement with a high potency multivitamin for at least several months after the detoxification period.

  • The influence of alcohol on nutritional status. Nutrition Reviews 46(7):241-254, 1988

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