Nutritional Status of Alcoholics

Abstract

The nutritional status of 34 alcoholics admitted to an alcoholic research ward was determined for thiamine, riboflavin, anti niacin. Physical condition at admission, nutrient intake for 1 month prior to admission, and excretion levels of thiamine, riboflavin, and ^N’-methylnicotinamide at fasting and 4 hr after an oral test dose at admission and after refeeding were evaluated. Comparative excretion tests were conducted with 12 normal persons and with 3 alcoholics consuming diets of known content. There was no significant difference between the mean excretion of vitamin metabolites by alcoholics and by normal controls, except in women after the oral test dose of thiamine. This suggested that female alcoholics had a lower level of thiamine saturation than healthy women. There was significant negative correlation between the history of nutrient intake prior to admission and the change in excretion of vitamin metabolites from admission to 5–7 days later, after consumption of a high vitamin diet. It was suggested that excretion tests be repeated after saturation to permit correction of excretion levels for individual idiosyncrasies. Diagnosis of frank nutritional deficiency, supported by clinical, dietary, and excretion tests, was found in only one subject. There was wide divergence in physical condition, dietary habit, and life history within the group. Results do not support the view that the nutritional status of alcoholics is markedly inferior to that of nonalcoholics, particularly those of similar economic and health histories.