I excerpted this info from my vitacost site and just wanted to place it in full so that people wouldn't have to keep clicking away...
It is kind of long...
cynthia
Dietary changes that may be helpful
Some of the nutritional deficiencies associated with alcoholism can be caused by a poor diet?a factor that needs correction on an individual basis. Improving the overall diet should be done in conjunction with a doctor. Sometimes liver or pancreatic disease associated with alcoholism also contributes to nutritional deficiencies. These problems require medical assessment and intervention.
In one trial, a hospital diet was compared with a special diet including fruit and wheat germ and excluding caffeinated coffee, junk food, dairy products, and peanut butter.1 After six months, fewer than 38% of those on the hospital diet remained sober, compared with over 81% of those eating the special diet. A review of the research shows that diets loaded with junk food increase alcohol intake in animals.2 In a human trial, restricting sugar, increasing complex carbohydrates, and eliminating caffeine also led to a reduction in alcohol craving.3 While the support for dietary intervention remains somewhat unclear, some doctors suggest that Heavy Drinkers reduce sugar and junk food intake and avoid caffeine.
Lifestyle changes that may be helpful
Most experts agree that Heavy Drinkers must stop drinking completely in order to overcome the addiction. Moreover, before nutritional supplements can be used, effective treatment of the malabsorption problems requires a complete avoidance of alcohol.
Nutritional supplements that may be helpful
Many Heavy Drinkers are deficient in B vitamins, including vitamin B3. John Cleary, M.D., observed that some Heavy Drinkers spontaneously stopped drinking in association with taking niacin supplements (niacin is a form of vitamin B3). Cleary concluded that alcoholism might be a manifestation of niacin deficiency in some people and recommended that Heavy Drinkers consider supplementation with 500 mg of niacin per day.4 Without specifying the amount of niacin used, Cleary?s preliminary research findings suggested that niacin supplementation helped wean some Heavy Drinkers away from alcohol.5 Activated vitamin B3 used intravenously has also helped Heavy Drinkers quit drinking.6 Niacinamide?a safer form of the same vitamin?might have similar actions and has been reported to improve alcohol metabolism in animals.7
Deficiencies of other B-complex vitamins are common with chronic alcohol use.8 The situation is exacerbated by the fact that Heavy Drinkers have an increased need for B vitamins.9 It is possible that successful treatment of B-complex vitamin deficiencies may actually reduce alcohol cravings, because animals crave alcohol when fed a B-complex-deficient diet.10 Many doctors recommend 100 mg of B-complex vitamins per day.
Heavy Drinkers may be deficient in a substance called prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a precursor to PGE1.11 In a double-blind study of Heavy Drinkers who were in a detoxification program, supplementation with 4 grams per day of evening primrose oil (containing 360 mg of GLA) led to greater improvement than did placebo in some, but not all, parameters of liver function.12
The daily combination of 3 grams of vitamin C, 3 grams of niacin, 600 mg of vitamin B6, and 600 IU of vitamin E has been used by researchers from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in an attempt to reduce anxiety and depression in Heavy Drinkers.13 Although the effect of vitamin supplementation was no better than placebo in treating alcohol-associated depression, the vitamins did result in a significant drop in anxiety within three weeks of use. Because of possible side effects, anyone taking such high amounts of niacin and vitamin B6 must do so only under the care of a doctor.
Although the incidence of B-complex deficiencies is known to be high in Heavy Drinkers, the incidence of other vitamin deficiencies remains less clear.14 Nonetheless, deficiencies of vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin C are seen in many Heavy Drinkers. While some reports have suggested it may be safer for Heavy Drinkers to supplement with beta-carotene instead of vitamin A,15 potential problems accompany the use of either vitamin A or beta-carotene in correcting the deficiency induced by alcoholism.16 These problems result in part because the combinations of alcohol and vitamin A or alcohol and beta-carotene appear to increase potential damage to the liver. Thus, vitamin A-depleted Heavy Drinkers require a doctor?s intervention, including supplementation with vitamin A and beta-carotene accompanied by assessment of liver function. Supplementing with vitamin C, on the other hand, appears to help the body rid itself of alcohol.17 Some doctors recommend 1 to 3 grams per day of vitamin C.
Kenneth Blum and researchers at the University of Texas have examined neurotransmitter deficiencies in Heavy Drinkers. Neurotransmitters are the chemicals the body makes to allow nerve cells to pass messages (of pain, touch, thought, etc.) from cell to cell. Amino acids are the precursors of these neurotransmitters. In double-blind research, a group of Heavy Drinkers were treated with 1.5 grams of D,L-phenylalanine (DLPA), 900 mg of L-tyrosine, 300 mg of L-glutamine, and 400 mg of L-tryptophan (now available only by prescription) per day, plus a multivitamin-mineral supplement.18 This nutritional supplement regimen led to a significant reduction in withdrawal symptoms and decreased stress in Heavy Drinkers compared to the effects of placebo.
The amino acid, L-glutamine, has also been used as an isolated supplement. Animal research has shown that glutamine supplementation reduces alcohol intake, a finding that has been confirmed in double-blind human research.19 In that trial, 1 gram of glutamine per day given in divided portions with meals decreased both the desire to drink and anxiety levels.
Heavy Drinkers are sometimes deficient in magnesium, and some researchers believe that symptoms of withdrawal may result in part from this deficiency.20 Nonetheless, a double-blind trial reported that magnesium injections did not reduce symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.21
Because of the multiple nutrient deficiencies associated with alcoholism, most Heavy Drinkers who quit drinking should supplement with a high-potency multivitamin-mineral for at least several months after the detoxification period. Whether or not the supplement should include iron should be discussed with a doctor.
It is kind of long...cynthia
Dietary changes that may be helpful
Some of the nutritional deficiencies associated with alcoholism can be caused by a poor diet?a factor that needs correction on an individual basis. Improving the overall diet should be done in conjunction with a doctor. Sometimes liver or pancreatic disease associated with alcoholism also contributes to nutritional deficiencies. These problems require medical assessment and intervention.
In one trial, a hospital diet was compared with a special diet including fruit and wheat germ and excluding caffeinated coffee, junk food, dairy products, and peanut butter.1 After six months, fewer than 38% of those on the hospital diet remained sober, compared with over 81% of those eating the special diet. A review of the research shows that diets loaded with junk food increase alcohol intake in animals.2 In a human trial, restricting sugar, increasing complex carbohydrates, and eliminating caffeine also led to a reduction in alcohol craving.3 While the support for dietary intervention remains somewhat unclear, some doctors suggest that Heavy Drinkers reduce sugar and junk food intake and avoid caffeine.
Lifestyle changes that may be helpful
Most experts agree that Heavy Drinkers must stop drinking completely in order to overcome the addiction. Moreover, before nutritional supplements can be used, effective treatment of the malabsorption problems requires a complete avoidance of alcohol.
Nutritional supplements that may be helpful
Many Heavy Drinkers are deficient in B vitamins, including vitamin B3. John Cleary, M.D., observed that some Heavy Drinkers spontaneously stopped drinking in association with taking niacin supplements (niacin is a form of vitamin B3). Cleary concluded that alcoholism might be a manifestation of niacin deficiency in some people and recommended that Heavy Drinkers consider supplementation with 500 mg of niacin per day.4 Without specifying the amount of niacin used, Cleary?s preliminary research findings suggested that niacin supplementation helped wean some Heavy Drinkers away from alcohol.5 Activated vitamin B3 used intravenously has also helped Heavy Drinkers quit drinking.6 Niacinamide?a safer form of the same vitamin?might have similar actions and has been reported to improve alcohol metabolism in animals.7
Deficiencies of other B-complex vitamins are common with chronic alcohol use.8 The situation is exacerbated by the fact that Heavy Drinkers have an increased need for B vitamins.9 It is possible that successful treatment of B-complex vitamin deficiencies may actually reduce alcohol cravings, because animals crave alcohol when fed a B-complex-deficient diet.10 Many doctors recommend 100 mg of B-complex vitamins per day.
Heavy Drinkers may be deficient in a substance called prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a precursor to PGE1.11 In a double-blind study of Heavy Drinkers who were in a detoxification program, supplementation with 4 grams per day of evening primrose oil (containing 360 mg of GLA) led to greater improvement than did placebo in some, but not all, parameters of liver function.12
The daily combination of 3 grams of vitamin C, 3 grams of niacin, 600 mg of vitamin B6, and 600 IU of vitamin E has been used by researchers from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in an attempt to reduce anxiety and depression in Heavy Drinkers.13 Although the effect of vitamin supplementation was no better than placebo in treating alcohol-associated depression, the vitamins did result in a significant drop in anxiety within three weeks of use. Because of possible side effects, anyone taking such high amounts of niacin and vitamin B6 must do so only under the care of a doctor.
Although the incidence of B-complex deficiencies is known to be high in Heavy Drinkers, the incidence of other vitamin deficiencies remains less clear.14 Nonetheless, deficiencies of vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin C are seen in many Heavy Drinkers. While some reports have suggested it may be safer for Heavy Drinkers to supplement with beta-carotene instead of vitamin A,15 potential problems accompany the use of either vitamin A or beta-carotene in correcting the deficiency induced by alcoholism.16 These problems result in part because the combinations of alcohol and vitamin A or alcohol and beta-carotene appear to increase potential damage to the liver. Thus, vitamin A-depleted Heavy Drinkers require a doctor?s intervention, including supplementation with vitamin A and beta-carotene accompanied by assessment of liver function. Supplementing with vitamin C, on the other hand, appears to help the body rid itself of alcohol.17 Some doctors recommend 1 to 3 grams per day of vitamin C.
Kenneth Blum and researchers at the University of Texas have examined neurotransmitter deficiencies in Heavy Drinkers. Neurotransmitters are the chemicals the body makes to allow nerve cells to pass messages (of pain, touch, thought, etc.) from cell to cell. Amino acids are the precursors of these neurotransmitters. In double-blind research, a group of Heavy Drinkers were treated with 1.5 grams of D,L-phenylalanine (DLPA), 900 mg of L-tyrosine, 300 mg of L-glutamine, and 400 mg of L-tryptophan (now available only by prescription) per day, plus a multivitamin-mineral supplement.18 This nutritional supplement regimen led to a significant reduction in withdrawal symptoms and decreased stress in Heavy Drinkers compared to the effects of placebo.
The amino acid, L-glutamine, has also been used as an isolated supplement. Animal research has shown that glutamine supplementation reduces alcohol intake, a finding that has been confirmed in double-blind human research.19 In that trial, 1 gram of glutamine per day given in divided portions with meals decreased both the desire to drink and anxiety levels.
Heavy Drinkers are sometimes deficient in magnesium, and some researchers believe that symptoms of withdrawal may result in part from this deficiency.20 Nonetheless, a double-blind trial reported that magnesium injections did not reduce symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.21
Because of the multiple nutrient deficiencies associated with alcoholism, most Heavy Drinkers who quit drinking should supplement with a high-potency multivitamin-mineral for at least several months after the detoxification period. Whether or not the supplement should include iron should be discussed with a doctor.
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