Alcoholics often develop nutritional deficiencies due to inadequate food intake and because high consumption of alcohol interferes with the digestion, absorption, utilization and excretion of several key nutrients. The most serious and common vitamin deficiencies are in vitamins C, B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B6 (pyridoxine) and folic acid. Additional deficiencies include vitamins A, B12, C, D, E, K and niacin.
The Process of Digestion
Digestion begins in the mouth where various enzymes found in saliva aid in breaking down food into nutrients to be used in providing energy and maintaining bodily structure and function. This partially digested food then travels into the stomach and intestines where additional enzymes produced by the pancreas continue to break the food into micronutrients. These micronutrients are absorbed by the intestines into the bloodstream and carried to the liver, which prepares the nutrients for storage or distribution to various parts of the body.
Alcohol inhibits the secretion of digestive enzymes from the pancreas. It damages the cells lining the stomach and intestine, blocking the absorption of micronutrients into the bloodstream and, over time, can have a serious impact on digestion. Excess alcohol also impairs the functioning of the liver and therefore the storage and distribution of essential vitamins and minerals to the rest of the body.
Alcoholism and Vitamins
Vitamins and minerals are essential for the normal growth and maintenance of the body. Deficiencies in one nutrient can lead to deficiencies in additional nutrients. For example, alcoholism inhibits the absorption of folic acid, which in turn leads to decreased absorption of water and other important nutrients including sodium, glucose and additional folic acid.
Because excess alcohol disrupts the normal metabolism of fat, fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K are also malabsorbed. Deficiency of these vitamins can lead to blindness, excess bleeding, poor wound healing and softening of the bones.
Vitamins B1, B2, B6 and B12 are important in maintaining proper neurological functions. Deficiencies of these vitamins, common in alcoholics, can lead to poor brain functioning including dementia and tremors, and can cause severe neurological damage and even coma.
Conclusion
Vitamin deficiencies due to alcoholism can have severe and sometimes permanent effects on organ function such as the pancreas, liver and brain. The best way to combat these deficiencies is by consuming an adequate diet and abstaining from alcohol.
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