Unfortunately, the calories gained from alcohol and junk food are “empty calories.” That is, they are calories lacking nutrients and are of little value to the body. Taking supplements like vitamin C, NAC, and GABA may help replenish your nutrient stores, potentially reducing your cravings and easing your withdrawal symptoms. In a 2011 study, 20 participants recovering from AUD took a dietary supplement with D-phenylalanine, L-glutamine, and 5-HTP during detox. Results indicated reduced psychiatric symptoms and improved mental well-being and immune function.
Some Vitamins and Minerals May Reduce Alcohol Toxicity
An experienced treatment team should create a comprehensive nutritional plan consisting of a well-balanced diet and portioned meals that gradually reintroduce food to the stimulant user’s body. If you’re new to vitamins for recovering alcoholics 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.
- Alcohol interferes with nutrient absorption, damages the gastrointestinal tract, and impairs the liver’s ability to metabolize nutrients.
- Ethanol, carbon tetrachloride, acetaminophen, and N-nitrosodimethylamine, as well as several hazardous compounds, are among these substrates.
- He wanted to be sure that all patients admitted for alcohol use who could benefit from Vitamin B1 received it as quickly as possible.
- While glutamine supplements won’t cure alcohol-related liver disease, they can detoxify the liver to remove excess ammonia11.
Alcoholism Thiamine Deficiency: How to Recognize and Address This Hidden Health Risk
Magnesium is crucial for nerve and muscle function, as well as for maintaining a healthy immune system. Zinc, on the other hand, is important for immune function, wound healing, and maintaining a healthy metabolism. To ensure proper nutrition, you can consider including magnesium and zinc supplements in your daily regimen. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that plays a role in immune function, bone health, and mood regulation. These supplements can help reduce alcohol cravings by regulating mood and improving overall health. Passionflower is a plant extract that promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety and depression.
Supplements for Recovering Alcoholics
If you or a loved one is struggling with malnutrition as a result of addiction, it’s important to remember that you are not alone. There are numerous treatment centers available that offer treatment for those struggling with addiction and malnutrition. Whether in an inpatient or outpatient program, evidence-based addiction treatment can lead to positive health outcomes. If you’re ready to start searching for rehab, consider visiting the recovery.org treatment directory. Our powerful online resource can help you search nationwide for suitable rehab centers.
This post is offered as a concise review of the evidence for certain B-vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, and zinc for reducing alcohol craving. Some studies have been done on d-phenylalanine, finding it improves alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Previous research has linked alterations in methionine metabolism to ethanol-induced alcoholic liver damage [113,114,115]. In animals and humans, chronic ethanol abuse reduces plasma levels of vitamins such as vitamin B9 and hepatic levels of SAMe [116] and raises plasma Hcy and hepatic S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) concentrations [110,114,115]. Due to ROS being formed naturally, cells have evolved several enzymatic and nonenzymatic ways to protect them [105,106]. 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].
Can vitamins protect the brain from alcohol’s adverse effects?
They may also ask the patient questions about his or her drinking habits, using a standardized questionnaire, to identify psychological signs. Since many alcoholics are in denial about their problem, doctors may ask the patient’s permission to speak with family and friends as well. A bonus is that many of these foods are an excellent source of thiamine and zinc, two nutrients that recovering alcoholics often need the most. Melatonin supplements can help reduce alcohol cravings by improving sleep quality and regulating mood, which can reduce stress-related triggers.
Decreased levels of vitamin B12 levels were shown to be adversely connected with tHcy and significantly linked with indicators of alcohol-related liver impairment in recent research [52]. Another research found that individuals with severe chronic liver disease had high vitamin B12 plasma levels but decreased vitamin B9 plasma levels [53]. Conversely, Gibson et al. [54] has shown that two weeks of moderate consumption of alcohol (i.e., red wine, or vodka) increased https://ecosoberhouse.com/ tHcy and reduced the statuses of both vitamin B9 and B12. In addition, other studies have studied vitamin B status as well [55,56,57]. For example, Van der Gaag et al. [55] showed that type-dependent alcohol had no effect on vitamin B12, but a fall in folate with spirits consumption and an increase in vitamin B6 with all alcohol types were observed. In contrast, Laufer et al. [56] only showed an effect of ethanol on vitamin B12, with no effect on vitamin B9.
VITAL ROLE OF SUPPLEMENTS IN ADDICTION RECOVERY
Other good sources of vitamin B6 include bananas, avocados, and peanuts. Vitamin B12 is only found in animal byproducts, which includes dairy and eggs. 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. Alcohol use disorder can mean an individual experiences vitamin deficiencies, as alcohol can affect how the body absorbs and uses vitamins and nutrients. The timeline of detoxification varies between individuals and depends on the duration and extent of their drinking behavior.
- This will help maintain stable blood sugar levels, preventing extreme highs and lows that can contribute to cravings.
- 5-HTP is a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and sleep.
- Recent clinical trials have examined the efficacy of numerous antioxidants, including S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and vitamin E.
- You may be tempted to indulge in junk food while you’re recovering from addiction.
- And since your brain needs certain fatty acids to function optimally, eating enough good fats is key in a healthy diet for alcoholics.