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. 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. Vitamin D supplements are commonly used to help recovering methamphetamine addicts, opiate addicts, and alcoholics who generally suffer from a chronic deficiency in vitamin D.
What Causes Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?
Alcohol tends to affect the absorption of all vitamins, but particularly vitamin B12, which depletes even with moderate alcohol use. Certain vitamins are vital to repairing and building cells required for bodily functions. 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.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
And eating a healthy and balanced diet will naturally include many of these nutrients. Vitamins and minerals are also important during detox because alcohol addiction leads to many nutrient deficiencies. The information we provide while responding to comments is not intended to provide and does not constitute medical, legal, or other professional advice. The responses to comments on fitrecovery.com are designed to support, not replace, medical or psychiatric treatment. Most people use a combination of vitamins to help stabilize the brain and body while quitting drinking. While there is no single compound that is as effective as multi-nutrient blends, a good place to start is BR Restore, which covers many bases of nutrient repair.
- They’re likely cooked in unhealthy fats, like saturated and trans fats, and aren’t very nutritious.
- Aubri John has been a contributing researcher and writer to online physical and mental health oriented journals since 2005.
- It is recommended to take Active B-Complex with food to ensure optimal absorption.
- This makes you less hungry for food, so there’s a higher chance you’ll skip meals or choose foods that are low in nutrients.
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Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage. Alcoholics are at risk for vitamin C deficiency because alcohol inhibits the absorption of this vitamin. Vitamin C deficiency can lead to scurvy, which is a condition marked by fatigue, muscle weakness, and joint pain. While taking vitamins can help manage symptoms caused by chronic alcohol use, they are most effective alongside detoxification and rehabilitation. Keep Sober living house in mind that taking supplements while continuing to consume alcohol can overwork your liver and lead to other medical complications. Heavy drinkers are prone to nutrient deficiencies that can cause fatigue and weakness, skin and hair issues, metabolism problems, bone fractures, bruising, bleeding, and depression.
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Some 30 million or more Americans struggle with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). AUD entails all kinds of alcohol abuse, including alcoholism and binge drinking. Before starting any new supplement, you should first discuss doing so with your doctor. This is because some supplements need to be closely monitored, including minerals like magnesium, which can build up in your body if you take too much. Further, some supplements may have drug interactions with your existing medications or can worsen other current medical conditions. Poor sleep can escalate stress and anxiety, which, in turn, might worsen alcohol cravings.
We will review a number of highly effective supplements for alcoholics that include many basic vitamins and go well beyond them. Probiotic supplements can have a powerful influence on liver health via the gut-liver axis and are typically the first supplement I recommend for my clients. Milk thistle and other herbs, vitamins, and healthy compounds can reduce liver enzymes or improve metabolic health in NAFLD patients. In the clinic, we find that a Paleo diet is a great option for improving gut health and losing weight, which can help reverse a fatty liver. If you have NAFLD, dietary improvements that reduce ultra-processed foods and sugars and increase nutrients will have far-reaching effects.
Mineral and Anti-Oxidant Supplementation In Alcoholism
Addiction psychiatrists provide both medications and talk therapy while others focus on prescribing meds. During detox, your body rids itself of toxins, and optimal brain function slowly returns. Selenium, a trace mineral, might boost the production of antioxidant enzymes. These enzymes help protect https://ecosoberhouse.com/ your liver against oxidative stress and damage.
- The supplement contains a variety of herbal ingredients that have been studied and found to be beneficial for liver health.
- At the minimum, we’d recommend taking a supplement after drinking or before bed.
- A lack of vitamin C can deplete bone and muscle strength, leading to chronic fatigue and a lack of energy.
- The first bite may be slightly sweet, but the taste quickly changes to a strong herbal effect.
- Nonenzymatic barriers, such as GSH and vitamins, play a key role in several cellular processes.
- A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is also essential for a successful alcohol detox.
Which vitamin supplements are most effective for alcohol withdrawal?
Exploring the best supplements for alcohol cravings can help you overcome them and stay on the path to recovery. Prickly pear is a cactus plant that is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It has been used in best vitamins for recovering alcoholics traditional medicine to treat various ailments, including liver problems.
What is alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS)?
Limited information is available about whether selenium is helpful in those who struggle with alcohol or during alcohol withdrawal. However, because it supports the immune system and alcohol suppresses it, some people may take supplements with selenium for its immune-boosting properties. They’ll ask about your health history, do a physical exam, and run some blood tests.
However, in another study, Beulens et al. 57 showed that beer drinking raised vitamin B6 and appeared to reduce vitamin B12 levels while having no effect on vitamin B9 levels. One of the most effective vitamin supplements for alcohol withdrawal is vitamin B1, also known as thiamine. This vitamin is essential for healthy brain function and can help to reduce the risk of developing Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a severe neurological disorder that can occur in chronic alcoholics.
