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Alcohol Abuse & Nutrition

Alcohol abuse negatively impacts the body through the destructive qualities of the alcohol itself, as well as through neglect of appropriate eating habits and nutrition. For example, it is well-documented that Infants exposed to alcohol abuse before birth can develop physical defects and learning disabilities caused by direct exposure to the drug, along with inadequate nutrition provided by the mother. Heavy drinkers generally have irregular eating times and decreased appetites, as alcohol consumption becomes a higher priority than nutritional needs.

  1. Nutritional Deficiency

    • According to Health Central, an online health information source, alcoholism is one of the chief reasons for nutritional deficiency within the United States. Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) deficiencies are the most common, along with thiamine and folic acid. These nutrient deficiencies cause anemia (low red-blood-cell count), and other neurological problems such as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome or "wet brain" syndrome. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome occurs when people drink so much alcohol that they neglect other sources of nutrients and develop B1 deficiency, along with overall malnutrition.

    Metabolism and Nutrition

    • The liver and pancreas, two organs involved in metabolism and nutrition, are severely impaired through excess alcohol consumption. The liver, responsible for the detoxification of harmful substances from the body, becomes overloaded with increased alcohol use and is unable to function adequately due to the large amount of alcohol within the system. The pancreas is also unable to regulate blood sugar and fat adequately with the use of large amounts of alcohol, and an imbalance of fluids, calories and electrolytes occurs resulting from impairment of both the liver and pancreas simultaneously.

    Permanent Liver Damage

    • According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, liver disease is the leading cause of death among alcoholics, and in the United States, alcohol abuse is the chief cause of liver disease. In all, 90 percent of alcohol abusers develop a condition known as fatty liver or alcoholic steatosis; 40 percent develop alcoholic hepatitis and fibrosis (in which scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue), and 30 percent develop cirrhosis or chronic liver disease. While fatty liver and hepatitis are reversible when drinking is eliminated, cirrhosis is not. Permanent liver disease in alcoholics is directly related to nutritional deficiencies in the diet.

    Diabetes and Osteoporosis

    • Diabetes, as many nutritional and blood disorders, is strongly related to chronic excess alcohol abuse which can accelerate its development. Post-menopausal females who drink heavily, are also at high risk of osteoporosis, due to calcium deficiencies related to poor nutrition. Alcoholic women with osteoporosis are often advised to take calcium supplements.

    Recovery Issues

    • According to Health Central, relapse of recovering individuals to alcohol use is sometimes related to fluctuation of blood-sugar levels due to irregular food intake. Recovering alcoholics sometimes mistake hunger for drug cravings, thus they should practice regular meal times in order to avoid severe hunger. A nutritious snack can also help cause cravings for alcohol to cease.

      During recovery, dehydration is also a common problem, thus adequate intake of fluids during and in between regular meal times, should be a part of any recovery plan, Recovering persons should be encouraged to eat healthy meals and snacks and avoid high-calorie foods with low nutritional content. Caffeine and nicotine use should also be reduced or eliminated completely.

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