Under physician supervision, vitamin doses are adjusted to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms, while also taking into account any existing health problems requiring management. Alcohol has been shown to cause deficiencies in essential nutrients, including vitamins and minerals that are needed to support detoxification and other vitamins for recovering alcoholics biochemical processes. If you have been drinking alcohol to excess, be sure to educate yourself about how exactly alcohol causes nutrient deficiencies. Heavy alcohol use is linked to magnesium deficiencies and increased anxiety, so taking these anti-anxiety magnesium supplements for alcohol withdrawal makes perfect sense.
Furthermore, some research suggests magnesium may be beneficial for helping restore healthy liver function and mitigating alcoholic liver disease. Multivitamins can help support physical health in people who are healthy, as well as people with substance use issues who have certain vitamin deficiencies. Laboratory tests for protein, iron, and electrolytes may be needed to determine if there is liver disease in addition to the alcohol problem. Women who drink heavily are at high risk of osteoporosis and may need to take calcium supplements. A woman’s poor diet when pregnant, especially if she drinks alcohol, can harm the baby’s growth and development in the womb. Infants who were exposed to alcohol while in the womb often have physical and mental problems.
Why Alcohol Abuse Causes Vitamin Deficiency
The recommended dosage when you are recovering from alcohol use disorder is 4 grams to 5 grams daily. According to the study, Perturbation of Glutamate-Glutamine System in Alcohol Dependence and Remission, it’s clear that L-Glutamine helps with alcoholism recovery. Some vitamins come in more common forms like regular gel capsules or tablets to swallow, but https://ecosoberhouse.com/ some come in a different form. This means you place it under your tongue and let it dissolve on its own and absorb it into your blood. This is sometimes more effective in taking vitamins or drugs as it is more quickly absorbed into your blood. If you wish to learn more about the best vitamin supplements to take for alcohol treatment continue reading below.
You can see a counselor to learn how to manage stress, join a support group to talk to others who understand what you’re going through, and get regular exercise to stay healthy and lower anxiety. If you’re new to recovery, your body may not be used to eating or digesting much. You’ll probably need lots of small, healthy meals throughout the day. Switch up your meals by eating a range of foods from the groups you need. It may leave you anxious, out of sorts, and make it hard to sleep. If you have alcohol use disorder (severe problem drinking that affects about 15 million people in the U.S.), these feelings can make it even harder to make good choices when it comes to both food and alcohol.
Possible Mechanisms of Action for Vitamins
Loss of appetite is one of the signs of liver diseases like cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatitis. If you’re currently dealing with AUD, it’s recommended that you talk with a healthcare professional about getting help. They can provide the necessary support and guidance throughout your recovery.
- No amount of positive thinking, group therapy, or spiritual guidance can help when the cause of your problem is physiological.
- If you choose to take a multivitamin, you may find it easier to begin with a liquid form so your body can absorb it easily.
- It’s important to note that withdrawing from alcohol can be particularly dangerous, especially if you’ve been drinking heavily for a long period of time.
- Additionally, alcohol can block the body’s absorption of many of the nutrients from food.
It can be exciting and motivating for you in your recovery journey! Consider getting a CBC blood test to find out the nutrient deficiencies in your body. Many insurance plans cover lab work, but be sure to check with yours just in case. While these are not necessarily treatments for alcohol withdrawal, they may help to support general well-being during the detox process and in early recovery. 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].
How Substance Abuse Affects Appetite
In effect, alcohol use abuse is considered a chronic disease that promotes the pathogenesis of many fatal diseases, such as cancer and liver cirrhosis. The alcohol effects in the liver can be prevented by antioxidant mechanisms, which induces enzymatic as well as other nonenzymatic pathways. However, these studies have been accompanied by uncertainty as mixed results were reported.
- Holistic treatment centers often focus on foods that have a low Glycemic Index (GI) and minimize or avoid heavily processed fare and sugar-sweetened foods.
- All of these benefits are helpful for people going through alcohol detox.
- Countless other nutrients can further support the body during the alcohol detox process.
Vitamins and nutrients help the body perform countless vital functions. They also aid in balancing brain chemistry, which leads to mood stabilization and decreased alcohol cravings. Vitamins and minerals are also important during detox because alcohol addiction leads to many nutrient deficiencies. Heavy drinking makes it harder for your organs to work the way they’re supposed to, especially your stomach lining, pancreas, intestines, and liver.