Vitamin B Deficiency and Alcohol Abuse
The Connection Between Alcohol and Vitamin B Deficiencies
Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, is a nutrient your body uses to convert the food you eat into energy. The nutrient takes different types of food sources with the components of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates consumed and fuels functions of the heart, nerves, and brain. This essential vitamin can be depleted easily when someone consumes an obscene amount of alcohol. Heavy alcohol consumption affects the stomach lining and digestive tract by causing inflammation.
Addiction Treatment that
Just Works
Individualized treatment programs delivered in a comfortable, relaxed setting promote healing in your recovery journey.
How Alcohol Abuse Affects Absorption of B Vitamins
When you have alcohol abuse disorder, it affects how your body absorbs b vitamins. In other words, it depletes the already produced b vitamins your body makes naturally, which is from inhibiting the absorption of these important nutrients. It also inhibits the absorption of folic acid and zinc. As a result, you may begin to experience certain impairments in what were once normal activities. Even if you opt to try to take extra vitamin B supplements while you’re still actively drinking, your body will never be able to catch up to a level where it should be to maintain these normal functions. When you start to lack the necessary b vitamins, your body system won’t work properly and you will have a ton of issues. For example, when you don’t absorb zinc, you are affecting your energy metabolic process and making you have a decrease in your endurance.
Thiamine (Vitamin B1) Deficiency in People Who Drink Heavily
Thiamine is a critical nutrient that is required by certain tissues, specifically in your brain. Typically, Thiamine is something that Is naturally found in certain foods such as pork, nuts, or peas. Usually, you will consume enough Vitamin B1 through your regular diet. However, when you introduce an abundance of alcohol into your diet you’re put in a position where you may not be eating a normal diet. When someone gets a Thiamine deficiency from drinking heavily, it can cause a multitude of health issues. Some of the health issues are loss of appetite, constipation, fatigue, blurry vision, nausea and vomiting, and muscle weakness. This is compounded by the fact that your body isn’t absorbing this vitamin which could equate to a vitamin B deficiency.
The Impact of Thiamine Deficiency on the Nervous System
Your nervous system can be affected by a Thiamine deficiency created by excessive alcohol consumption causing the symptoms of Ataxia. Ataxia is considered a degenerative disease affecting your nervous system. It has similar symptoms as being drunk, which are slurred speech, stumbling, poor coordination, and falling. Your nervous system also requires a certain level of thiamine to act normally. A lack of vitamin B1 could result in certain physical consequences including the increased possibility of alcoholic dementia as well as certain cognitive impairments.
Wernicke-Korskaoff Syndrome from B Vitamin Deficiency
When someone gets diagnosed with Wernicke-Korskaoff syndrome, they have a deficiency of thiamine or vitamin B1. When patients present the symptoms of this, they show signs of an altered mental status and ataxia. People who have an alcohol addiction, start to have an issue absorbing the vitamin B1 or thiamine, which makes them prone to developing Wernicke-Korskaoff syndrome. This condition is a brain disorder that can make it nearly impossible for a person to function cognitively without help. Memory issues and changes in behavior are common trademarks of Wernicke-Korskaoff Syndrome. It’s estimated that approximately 25% of people who are diagnosed with a severe form of this condition will require long-term help regardless of their age.
Other Health Risks of Vitamin B Deficiency
Not only can alcohol addiction make someone deficient in vitamin B1 but they also have trouble absorbing vitamin B12. This is an important vitamin as it helps with making red blood cells and DNA, which is the genetic material in your cells. It also keeps your nerve cells and blood cells healthy. This is one of those vitamins that your body actually can’t produce on its own and needs help by you consuming it through food and drinks. You can consume more vitamin B12 if you eat animal products or drink them. It’s also found in processed foods with added vitamins in it. An example of this type of food would be cereals.
The issue with not being able to produce vitamin B12 naturally makes it even harder for alcoholics to have the vitamin absorbed in their system from the foods they eat. Even if someone who has an alcohol use disorder were to consume a ton of food with vitamin B12, it still would be a struggle for them to absorb and use those essential vitamins to maintain a healthy lifestyle because of being overly dependent on alcohol. For example, due to this type of deficiency, a person may be more susceptible to cardiovascular issues such as a heart attack or a stroke. There is also a possibility that women who drink and suffer from this type of deficiency may be at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Keep in mind that alcoholism can also put any drinker at an increased possibility of developing any type of cancer.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Resurgence Behavioral Health
When you finally realize you have an alcohol addiction, you need to seek help for treatment immediately. When considering where to enroll for addiction treatment, people should do their research beforehand and figure out what they need in an addiction treatment center. Resurgence Behavioral Health specializes in alcohol addiction treatment and offers different treatment plans for prospective patients to choose from. Some of the treatments patients can choose from when enrolled in the rehab are inpatient, outpatient, and medical detox.
Alcoholism is a serious condition which is why the Resurgence Behavioral Health team continuously goes above and beyond to provide our clients with the care that they need as they begin to make the changes in their lives that will allow them to maintain their sobriety. Suppose you believe that you may be suffering from vitamin B deficiency and alcohol abuse. If you believe that you may be suffering from vitamin B deficiency and alcohol abuse, we encourage you to reach out to us today at (855) 458-0050 for more information about our treatment options. We look forward to hearing from you and providing you with the insight that you need.
Did you know that there is a distinct connection between alcohol abuse and Vitamin B deficiency? Call Resurgence to get help now! #alcoholabuse #vitaminb #alcoholaddiction #recovery #sobriety https://t.co/NGoOkxQBxR
— Resurgence Behavioral Health (@RBHRecovery) August 2, 2021
