Benefits of vitamin supplements for alcohol withdrawal syndrome
Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is an essential nutrient for the proper functioning of your body, particularly in the conversion of food into energy and the regulation of brain metabolism. Unfortunately, if you have an alcohol use disorder, you’re at an increased risk of thiamine deficiency. This deficiency can lead to severe health issues like Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS), which affects the brain and nervous system. These antioxidants probably execute their effects through their ability to eliminate reactive oxygen species. However, there is still mixed evidence on the effect of dietary nutrients on the severity of chronic alcohol intake. Therefore, new studies are required to elucidate cellular and molecular pathways involved, the mechanisms of action, and the histopathological changes produced after vitamin supplementation.
Therefore, doctors treating individuals detoxing from alcohol might prescribe additional treatments with vitamin B1. Alcohol interacts with neurotransmitters including gamma-aminobutyric acid. Therefore, if individuals stop or reduce their alcohol intake, their brain must readjust, leading to withdrawal symptoms.
Best supplements for alcohol cravings
Vitamin B12 is only found in animal byproducts, which includes dairy and eggs. The timeline of detoxification varies between individuals and depends best vitamins for recovering alcoholics on the duration and extent of their drinking behavior. It may also depend on any other physical and mental health issues an individual has.
Focusing on proper nutrition, including the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and amino acids, can significantly aid in the alcohol recovery process. By addressing nutritional imbalances and supporting your body’s repair processes, you can pave the way towards a healthier future. Amino acids, the building blocks of protein, are crucial for maintaining and repairing the body’s tissues, including muscles, bones, and organs. In alcoholics, consistent alcohol consumption can impair protein synthesis, negatively affecting the body’s ability to regenerate and repair damaged cells.
How can supplements help address these nutritional deficiencies?
Alcohol consumption can negatively impact your body’s ability to absorb and utilize essential vitamins and nutrients. When you regularly consume alcohol, it hinders the breakdown and absorption of nutrients, particularly water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin B12 and vitamin C. Calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism require vitamin D to function properly [75]. It is well known for its role in immune response control as well as its anticancer activities [76,77]. Vitamin D deficiency, less than 50 nmol/L of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) is increasingly being recognized as a global public health issue [78]. According to published studies, the activities and functions of important vitamins and minerals including vitamin B9 and vitamins D, C and E are impaired by chronic ethanol consumption [51,79].
This post is the sixth in a series on non-pharmacologic approaches for managing symptoms related to alcohol and drug abuse and withdrawal and decreasing the risk of relapse. Previous posts commented on evidence for natural supplements, weak electrical https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-to-rebuild-your-life-after-addiction-how-to-regain-trust/ current, and mindfulness for reducing drug and alcohol use and treating symptoms of withdrawal. This post is offered as a concise review of the evidence for certain B-vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, and zinc for reducing alcohol craving.
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In effect, ethanol or its derivatives impairs several of these defensive mechanisms, which could change the redox status, causing the antioxidant cell defenses to be compromised [107]. Nonenzymatic barriers, such as GSH and vitamins, play a key role in several cellular processes. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and vitamins are probably the most important nonenzymatic antioxidants and participate in a wide range of cellular functions. Furthermore, internal redox buffers, such as Hcy, cysteine (Cys), and cysteinyl glycine (CysGly), play an important role in the extracellular redox system [108,109]. Chronic alcohol intake produces altered Hcy metabolism, which leads to fat storage, inflammation, and hepatocyte damage [110,111]. Hyperhomocysteinemia induced by ethanol and linked to oxidative endoplasmic reticulum stress triggers apoptosis and increases lipid production [112].
- Many people who struggle with their drinking don’t have enough L-glutamine in their systems.
- It’s always best to speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement regimen, especially if you’re struggling with addiction.
- These include supplements for alcohol cravings, repairing your liver, and rebalancing your nervous system.
- This will help maintain stable blood sugar levels, preventing extreme highs and lows that can contribute to cravings.
- By helping to detoxify the liver, milk thistle can support your recovery by enhancing liver function and promoting regeneration.
- However, it’s important to note that too much vitamin C can actually cause diarrhea.
- Recent clinical trials have examined the efficacy of numerous antioxidants, including S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and vitamin E.
Thus, the recommendations are made based on several assumptions and considerations that could lead to large variations in the eventual RDA [39,40]. In addition, notwithstanding emerging evidence of the remarkable individual differences in the absorption and excretion of vitamins, these values have changed little over the years. It is known that eating requirement values can vary substantially because of several factors, which include genetic polymorphisms, obesity, total energy intake, exercise, and age [41,42,43,44,45,46,47].
Comprehensive Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder
Anxiety is a symptom of alcohol withdrawal, so increasing your zinc intake may help ease withdrawal. Moreover, low magnesium decreases muscle movement, and low iron can lead to anemia. Several research articles have linked alcohol-mediated oxidative stress and ethanol-inducible CYP2E1 with oxidative stress and their toxicity, both in in vitro and in vivo models. In effect, new pathophysiological focuses that could be used against ALD have been described using in vitro studies [29,30]. Nonetheless, hepatocytes’ antioxidant defense can counteract this damage through enzymatic as well as nonenzymatic mechanisms [31,32,33,34,35,36]. Recent clinical trials have examined the efficacy of numerous antioxidants, including S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and vitamin E.