NCJ Number
157977
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses how excessive alcohol consumption often leads to poor diet and interference with the nutritional process by affecting digestion, storage, use, and excretion of nutrients.
Abstract
Alcohol inhibits the breakdown of nutrients into usable molecules by decreasing secretion of digestive enzymes from the pancreas. Alcohol impairs nutrient absorption by damaging the cells that line the stomach and intestines while disabling transport of some nutrients into the blood. Even if nutrients are digested and absorbed, alcohol can prevent them from being fully used by altering their transport, storage, and excretion. Decreased liver stores of vitamins such as vitamin A and increased excretion of nutrients such as fat indicate impaired use of nutrients by alcoholics. Some alcoholics ingest as much as 50 percent of their total daily calories from alcohol, often neglecting important foods. Although alcoholic liver damage is caused primarily by alcohol itself, poor nutrition may increase the risk of alcohol-related liver damage. Further, research suggests that malnutrition may increase the risk of developing alcoholic pancreatitis. Nutritional deficiencies can have severe and permanent effects on brain function. Alcohol has direct toxic effects on fetal development, causing alcohol-related birth defects, including fetal alcohol syndrome. Alcohol itself is toxic to the fetus, but accompanying nutritional deficiency can affect fetal development, perhaps compounding the risk of developmental damage. Research shows that the majority of even the heaviest drinkers have few detectable nutritional deficiencies, but that many alcoholics who are hospitalized for medical complications of alcoholism do experience severe malnutrition. 26 references