Common Vitamin Deficiencies in Alcoholics

Vitamin deficiencies are common in alcoholics mostly due to a poor diet. They tend to replace food with alcohol and, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, are more likely to eat high fat/high sugar foods than grains, fruits, and vegetables. So which vitamin deficiencies are more common in alcoholics?

Vitamin B deficiencies most common in alcoholics

B Vitamins are water soluble, meaning they dissolve in water. Once dissolved, they can be quickly excreted in urine. B Vitamins are not stored by the body, so they need to be replenished every day. However, thanks to a poor diet, alcoholics are not replenishing their supply of B vitamins as often as they should. In addition, alcohol is a diuretic. These facts combined illustrate why vitamin B deficiencies are most common in alcoholics.

Vitamin B1(Thiamin) deficiencies

Vitamin B1, or thiamin, is essential for your body's energy metabolism, neuromuscular function, and alcohol metabolism. The main cause of thiamin deficiencies in alcoholics is poor diet. In addition, without thiamin, the alcoholic's liver cannot properly detoxify the amount of alcohol being consumed. In severe cases, alcoholics with severe thiamin deficiencies can develop what is known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, central nervous system disorder that causes neuropsychiatric problems.

Vitamin B3(Niacin) deficiencies

Vitamin B3, or niacin, is also needed for energy metabolism in your body. Niacin is usually found in protein rich foods. So a diet with adequate protein usually means a diet with adequate niacin. Niacin deficiencies are almost non-existent in developed countries. However, because alcoholics tend to have a poor diet, a niacin deficiency is very real possibility. A severe niacin deficiency can lead to a condition called pellagra. Common signs of pellagra include: a scaly rash, gastrointestinal troubles affecting digestion and absorption, and neurological problems including dementia.

Folate deficiencies

Your body needs folate for protein synthesis and making red blood cells. Unlike thiamin and niacin, folate deficiencies are actually quite common. In the case of alcoholics, their excessive alcohol use causes liver damage, and that interferes with the storage and metabolism of folate. If the body cannot properly store folate, it will be excreted in excessive amounts in urine and feces. Common signs of a folate deficiency include a swollen tongue, diarrhea, depression, confusion, and anemia.

Sources:

Thiamin, Niacin,Folate Merck, April 2007

Woznicki, Katrina, Drinking Alcohol Linked to Unhealthy Diet, WebMd, March 30, 2010

Michele Grodner, Sara Long, Bonnie Walkingshaw, Foundations and Clinical Applications of Nutrition: A Nursing Approach Chapter 7 'Vitamins' pp 134-139 Mosby/Elsevier, CA 2007

J. Anderson and L. Young Water-Soluble Vitamins Fact Sheet, Colorado State University Extension revised May 12, 2010