The primary aim was to confirm that Mg treatment decreases elevated S-GGT among alcoholics. S-GGT was chosen to be the primary outcome of the trial because it is widely used in screening for alcohol problems and correlates with alcohol consumption. The secondary aims were to find out whether Mg treatment decreases the activity of S-AST and S-ALT, increases muscle strength and decreases depressive symptoms among these patients. Mg treatment may speed up the S-AST decrease in compliant patients. Ashwagandha is an herbal supplement used in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine. It has long been used to prevent alcohol cravings, improve immune function, and reduce stress.
How Doctors and Nutritionists Can Help
In this article, we review the nutritional therapies that health care providers should be aware of when treating patients with ALD. Some small clinical studies have shown it can reduce alcohol cravings and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Taking supplements can help alcoholics in experiencing withdrawal symptoms or undergoing detoxification. Some vitamins can provide significant benefits to counter some of the adverse effects of drinking. Calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism require vitamin D to function properly [75].
Sunnyside Mindful Drinking Coach
He has a nursing and business/technology degrees from The Johns Hopkins University. Recommended dietary allowances (RDA) are population statistics, and they represent rough estimates of the average requirement of individuals within a population. However, for most micronutrients, part of the information that is required to accurately calculate the daily intake is either unknown or incomplete. Thus, the recommendations are made based on several assumptions and considerations that could lead to large variations in the eventual RDA [39,40]. In addition, notwithstanding emerging evidence of the remarkable individual differences in the absorption and excretion of vitamins, these values have changed little over the years.
Can Supplements Help With Alcohol Cravings?
Meditation, practiced on your own or via guided meditation, can help you learn to react less to alcohol cravings (8). This can be a key to breaking the hold that your triggers to drink have on you. Similar to ashwagandha, holy basil may help alleviate anxiety from alcohol withdrawal. These cravings can be frustrating if you’re trying to cut down on alcohol, drink less or stop drinking completely, but they are quite normal. Selenium levels tend to be lower in people who drink alcohol on a regular basis (22).
N-Acetyl-Cysteine and Vitamin C
- L-glutamine is another great supplement for anyone trying to reduce their alcohol consumption.
- In effect, alcohol use abuse is considered a chronic disease that promotes the pathogenesis of many fatal diseases, such as cancer and liver cirrhosis.
- Research published in 2022 found that individuals who were alcohol dependent had significantly lower levels of both zinc and magnesium compared to the control group.
- However, the risks of consuming alcohol, such as increasing the risk of cancer, far outweigh any potential benefits.
- So I’m going to share with you my comprehensive anti-alcohol regimen so that you can manage and fight back against the damaging effects of alcohol.
- Taking supplements like vitamin C, NAC, and GABA may help replenish your nutrient stores, potentially reducing your cravings and easing your withdrawal symptoms.
The most important treatment for ALD is abstinence from alcohol; however, alcohol is highly addictive, and thus, abstinence is often difficult. In particular, advanced ALD requires appropriate nutritional therapy according to the disease stage. I’ve also discussed curcumin lots before, as it has helped me overcome chronic depression and anxiety. It’s one of the best supplements you can take for your brain and mental health.
- The right combination of vitamins and supplements can not only help you feel physically healthier, it can also help you overcome alcohol cravings and common long-term withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and depression.
- If you’re currently dealing with AUD, it’s recommended that you talk with a healthcare professional about getting help.
- Long-term oral intake of a BCAA mixture is superior to a standard diet for improving serum albumin levels and energy metabolism [27].
- Aromatic amino acids and methionine are metabolized in the liver, and their blood levels are increased with worsening severity of cirrhosis.
Signs and symptoms of AWS
Naltrexone is a medication that belongs to a group of drugs known as opioid antagonists. It binds to and blocks opioid receptors in the brain, which reduces the buzz and intoxicated feeling you get from drinking alcohol. best supplement for alcoholics Sign up for Jordan’s newsletter and join the 50,000 readers who are using his practical solutions to improve their brain function and mental health. Obviously it would be much easier to just avoid alcohol altogether.
What Are the Most Important Vitamins to Take for Alcohol Use Disorder?
- A lack of vitamin C can deplete bone and muscle strength, leading to chronic fatigue and a lack of energy.
- Alcohol-induced changes in the gut microbiota may contribute to alcohol-induced oxidative stress and intestinal hyperpermeability [9].
- Replenishing vitamins and nutrients in a body depleted by alcoholism can help boost energy levels and diminish unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, helping greatly with the recovery process.
- The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) are great places to start.
- Several research articles have linked alcohol-mediated oxidative stress and ethanol-inducible CYP2E1 with oxidative stress and their toxicity, both in in vitro and in vivo models.
- Long-term alcohol use can cause vitamin A levels to fall in the liver, the primary organ that breaks down alcohol and stores vitamin A.
