These therapies aim to help you understand the underlying causes of your addiction, change unhelpful patterns of thinking, and develop healthier coping mechanisms. Vitamin E levels in the liver of alcoholics with cirrhosis are frequently low [96]. Vitamin E deficiency, according to earlier research, makes the liver more sensitive to alcohol [97]. Ethanol is harmful to the human body and can cause toxicity and death when ingested in excessive amounts. Ethanol metabolism produces an alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, or cirrhosis [13,14].

• Group therapy and participation in programs like Alcoholics Anonymous can also provide a valuable support system for individuals in recovery.
• This makes a person with alcohol use disorder more likely to have one or more vitamin deficiencies.
• Even those who were formerly healthy tend to let their good eating habits go as they become more consumed with the need to find and drink alcohol.
• Incorporating these supplements and remedies into your recovery plan can provide essential support for your body as you heal.

Furthermore, short-term intravenous vitamin C therapy (500 mg/day for five days) significantly improved serum vitamin C levels in chronic alcoholics with hypovitaminosis C [64]. Despite these findings, a previous study indicated that chronic drinkers’ blood levels can take up to three months to restore to normal after taking oral vitamin C supplements [65,66]. More specifically, B vitamins can aid in the alcohol withdrawal process.

Precautions and Consultation with Healthcare Providers

In addition to supplements for alcohol cravings, there are several prescription medications that can help you cut back or quit drinking. Naltrexone can help retrain your brain to be less interested in alcohol over time, while acamprosate, baclofen, gabapentin, and topiramate can all help reduce cravings for alcohol. Learn more about medications for alcohol cravings, and other ways to round out your support system in recovery. Alcohol can cause malnutrition, malabsorption, and increased urinary excretion of the vitamin, leading to vitamin C deficiency.9 This deficiency can cause you to feel tired, irritable, and weak. Severe deficiency, called scurvy, may result in anemia, bruising, and dental issues. Taking a vitamin C supplement can help you feel better, which is essential to maintaining your sobriety.

• Some nutrients are crucial for proper brain or body functionality, so it’s important to follow the right regimen of vitamins for alcoholics and addicts in recovery.
• One particularly important B vitamin is thiamine, and up to 80% of heavy drinkers are deficient in thiamine due to low absorption and low intake.
• Hangovers from drinking alcohol the night before can cause an array of unpleasant symptoms.
• When the liver is burdened by excessive alcohol consumption, it struggles to store, metabolize, and synthesize various vitamins required for healthy body functions.
• When you drink alcohol, it releases a burst of dopamine, serotonin, and other “feel good” chemicals in your brain.

Other new habits, such as regular exercise, mindfulness practice, and a healthier diet, can all contribute to boosting your health in recovery. This deficiency can lead to problems, such as slow wound healing, softening of the bones, skin problems, decreased blood clotting, and neurological damage. Therefore, doctors may recommend nutrient supplementation as part of an individual’s detoxification and recovery process. People who live with alcohol use disorder may develop a range of symptoms if they stop drinking suddenly. They may also experience vitamin deficiencies, as alcohol impairs the body’s ability to absorb vitamins and nutrients.

Alcohol Use Disorder: Nutrition During Recovery

It can trigger irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, and other gastrointestinal illnesses, too. Alcohol use disorder can mean an individual experiences vitamin deficiencies, as alcohol can affect how the body absorbs and uses vitamins and nutrients. However, people who misuse alcohol may eat less food and commonly have deficiencies in zinc, magnesium, selenium, protein, and certain vitamins. In the meantime, there are many things you can do to help get through the withdrawal stage. In addition to changing your diet, you can get extra support through treatment options such as medication to curb cravings,  specialized alcohol therapy, and peer support groups.

The doctor may tell you to take supplements to raise your nutrient levels. These may also help prevent or reduce alcohol-induced organ damage. People https://ecosoberhouse.com/ who drink alcohol are at higher risk of calcium deficiency, since alcohol interferes with your body’s ability to properly absorb this vital nutrient.

The Best Vitamins for a Person With Alcohol Use Disorder

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. However, the conclusions drawn by these have been conflicting [31,32,37,38]. As a result, the current study focuses on what we know about antioxidant deficiency and its involvement in AUD and provides suggestions for future trials.

To stay in recovery and live a healthier, happier life, you need to try other things. 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. A personalized plan can help make the most of nutritional therapy, so you may want to consider best vitamins for recovering alcoholics working with a dietitian. They’ll help you create a diet that addresses your unique health situation, weight, and personal diet needs. Ask your doctor for a referral, or contact your local hospital, community health center, or university. There are holistic addiction treatment centers and substance use treatment programs that emphasize nutrition education, too.