Moderate alcohol use is generally defined as one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. If you drink more than that amount, there is a chance you may be abusing alcohol. Over the long-term, you may develop alcoholism. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that alcoholism can reduce your life expectancy by 10 to 12 years. A deficiency in one or more vitamins is common in people with chronic alcoholism.
How Alcohol Affects Vitamin B-12 Absorption
For optimal absorption of vitamin B-12, the stomach, pancreas, and small intestine all need to be working properly. Normal acids and enzymes produced by the stomach and pancreas during digestion help process this vitamin to a form that can be absorbed by the small intestine. If any of these three components are not functioning normally, it is likely that this vitamin is not being optimally absorbed. Chronic alcoholism can cause damage to the mucosal tissue lining the small intestine and alter the amount of acids and enzymes produced, and thus many alcoholics do not absorb this and/or other vitamins properly.
Vitamin B-12 Deficiency in Alcoholics
Dr. Alberto Fragasso, MD, a doctor and researcher at the Madonna delle Grazie Hospital in Italy, led a research study on the effect of vitamin B-12 deficiency in alcoholics and published his findings in the European Journal of Internal Medicine in April 2010. Dr. Fragasso found that 86 of 101 patients with anemia and alcoholism did indeed have a deficiency in vitamin B-12. Furthermore, an additional four patients whose test results were normal for vitamin B-12 level had a positive response to vitamin B-12 supplementation, indicating that the functional amount of this vitamin be low despite normal test results. These results indicate that some chronic alcoholics may benefit from vitamin B-12 supplementation even if their test results indicate normal levels.
Peripheral Neuropathy
A deficiency in vitamin B-12 can lead to a condition called peripheral neuropathy. Nerves throughout the body, excluding those of the brain and spinal cord, are often called peripheral nerves. In a healthy person, nerves transmit information, such as sensation and directions for muscle movement, to and from the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nerves need vitamin B-12 to transmit this information properly, and thus a deficiency in this vitamin can ultimately cause tingling and numbness, symptoms that characterize peripheral neuropathy.
Recommendations
The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends that alcoholics should take vitamin and mineral supplements in order to maintain a healthy level of vitamin B-12 and other nutrients. The recommended daily allowance for normal healthy adults is 2.4 mcg of vitamin B-12 per day. Because every person is different, always consult a doctor before taking a dose of vitamins different than the recommended daily allowance.
Member Comments