Vitamins Needed for Recovery From Long-Term Alcohol Abuse

Moreover, medical professionals often recommend supplementing with oral or intravenous thiamine, especially for individuals with alcohol use disorder. So alcohol has a number of effects and the main reason that people feel kind of relaxed and disinhibited and can even end up intoxicated is because it acts on your GABA receptors. And so if you think of GABA as being kind of the primary neurotransmitter that causes like relaxation, like benzodiazepines are a medication that would do the same kind of thing. Alcohol also acts on glutamate, which is the body’s main excitatory neurotransmitter.

The Pathophysiology of Alcohol Drinking

Ryan Marino, MDAnd to undo a lot of these kind of changes in the body, especially if someone has been drinking for a very long time, it may take more than just a month. It may take months, three to five months even, to see some of those changes. Macie JepsonSo to be clear, there are a lot of steps along the way towards cirrhosis. Your one month off in January isn’t going to reverse that, but we really want to inform people with the facts because on social media in January they’re talking about that one week your body looks like this.

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Through alcohol intoxication, the CYP2E1-dependent system and the microsomal respiratory chain are the principal sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the hepatocytes. Because of its propensity to metabolize and activate a variety of hepatotoxic substrates in the liver, CYP2E1 is of particular interest. Ethanol, carbon tetrachloride, acetaminophen, and N-nitrosodimethylamine, as well as several hazardous compounds, are among these substrates. In this view, the ethanol-induced activation of cytochrome CYP2E1 appears to be one of the main mechanisms by which ethanol causes oxidative stress.

• Doctors may recommend multivitamin supplements containing B1, B2, B3, B6, and vitamin C.
• Taking B1 can reduce the risk of complications during withdrawal.
• Niacin, or vitamin B3, can also be found in pork, as well as in fortified cereals, salmon, and swordfish.
• Therefore, long-term alcohol use leads to lower nutrient consumption and can affect how the body uses this limited supply of nutrients.

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Therefore, if individuals stop or reduce their alcohol intake, their brain must readjust, leading to withdrawal symptoms. It’s much more reliably the result of good “sleep hygiene,” which, according to Dr. Ramar, means developing a consistent, intentional routine that’s conducive to rest and sticking to it. Building solid habits takes time, but actually feeling awake in the morning is worth the effort.

This contributes to greater stability in recovery, making it easier to stick with sobriety. A lack of vitamin B9 can trigger anemia and make you weak, tired, and moody. Folic acid is in foods like enriched bread, flour, cornmeal, pasta, rice, and breakfast cereals. Veggies, fruits, fruit juices, nuts, beans, and peas naturally have folate.

Herbal Supplements

Foods rich in folic acid include leafy greens, beans, and fortified grains. It’s crucial to engage with your healthcare provider when considering vitamin supplementation as a means of support during your recovery. Doctors can provide personalized recommendations based on your specific needs, medical history, and existing conditions. Remember that consulting with a healthcare professional is essential before starting any supplementation regimen during alcohol recovery. Supplementing with specific vitamins and minerals like thiamine, vitamin C, and magnesium can support your liver’s recovery and restore essential nutrients that AUD has depleted. Your body creates melatonin to help regulate your sleep-wake cycle, and the supplement versions aim to mimic the natural production of the hormone.

There were also associations between both vitamin C and vitamin B9 [117,118] while the molecular basis is unknown. Vitamin B9 is required for the transformation of Hcy into methionine as well as the generation of deoxythymidine monophosphate (dTMP) from deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP) [119]. Even though vitamin C consumption has been shown to raise circulation levels of vitamin B9 and lower best vitamins for recovering alcoholics Hcy levels [118,120,121], the relationship between them remains unknown. Figure 3 summarizes the vitamins and their possible mechanisms of action against the liver injury caused by alcohol consumption. CYP2E1, an enzyme engaged in ethanol metabolism directly or by creating reactive oxidative metabolites, is implicated in ethanol disruption of enzymes involved in vitamin D metabolism [83,91].

• Alcohol-induced changes in the gut microbiota may contribute to alcohol-induced oxidative stress and intestinal hyperpermeability [9].
• The liver kind of uses it actually for energy and so metabolizes alcohol into various products.
• So I mean, if you can cut back one drink or stop for one month or completely stop, all of those things are going to have some sort of health benefit.
• Excessive alcohol consumption can contribute to liver disease, cirrhosis, and alcoholic hepatitis.

Carbohydrates are recommended to constitute approximately 50–60% of the total calories (preferably as complex carbohydrates) [54]. However, recommendations vary depending on the pathophysiology of ALD and the presence or absence of glucose intolerance [54]. Among carbohydrates, excessive intake of fructose, which is commonly used commercially in soft drinks and other products, should be avoided [55]. Fructose in food and drink has been significantly correlated with the degree of inflammation and fibrosis, and is also a risk factor for the development of liver cancer [56].

• Several studies have shown that blood vitamin levels are low in alcoholic patients.
• Glycine is another amino acid used to make proteins in the body.
• And so even though it may help people fall asleep, it may help people get a full night’s sleep, they’re not getting the same kind of quality sleep, and so your sleep will improve when you take the alcohol out of the picture.
• Ryan Marino, MDIn terms of kind of takeaway points, it’s never too late or too little to try to reduce the amount that you’re drinking.

And we get expert advice about giving our bodies a break from alcohol from just about anybody. “A B12 deficiency can cause physical and neurological symptoms, and research is also growing to support that it can also cause psychological issues as well,” says Shapiro. As mentioned above, B12 needs to be combined with a protein called intrinsic factor in the stomach before it is absorbed. However, in people who have the autoimmune disease pernicious anemia, antibodies bind to the intrinsic factor, keeping it from attaching to the B12 and allowing it to be absorbed. B12 is involved in bone metabolism and mineralization, so it is particularly important for women who are at risk for bone conditions, such as osteoporosis.

Why is Vitamin Supplementation Essential for Drinkers?

It can be an especially good alcohol recovery supplement for people with liver damage. Studies show that glycine is useful in treating both alcoholic hepatitis and carcinoma caused by alcoholic cirrhosis. Even if you are not suffering from these conditions, taking glycine may help protect your liver if you have a history of heavy drinking. Individuals who are in recovery from alcohol abuse can greatly benefit from a healthy diet coupled with a robust vitamin regimen. Replenishing vitamins and nutrients in a body depleted by alcoholism can help boost energy levels and diminish unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, helping greatly with the recovery process.