Vitamin B1 counteracts alcohol-induced dementia

Vitamin B1 counteracts alcohol-induced dementia Alcohol is one of the most compromising factors when it comes to public health, and alcohol abuse comes at an enormous cost, both to the individual and to society. A large alcohol consumption contributes as a factor to insidious dementia, but according to a new study from Taiwan, supplementing with vitamin B1 (thiamine) may prevent alcohol-induced dementia. The scientists that have conducted the study therefore point to vitamin B1 supplementation as having an important role in the treatment plan for people with alcohol abuse problems and to prevent dementia from developing or progressing.

Dementia is a term for different symptoms of failing brain function and is primarily characterized by poor memory and impaired ability to function in daily life. Dementia is often insidious, and to begin with, it may be difficult to determine if it is rooted in disease. Many chronic ailments such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease may lead to dementia for varying reasons. Long-term alcohol abuse can cause chronic poisoning of the brain that often vanishes as soon as the person stops drinking. However, many people sustain irreparable damage, which is primarily a result of lacking vitamin B1. Potentially life-threatening conditions may also occur.

Wernicke’s encephalopathy is an acute, life-threatening condition that is caused by a lack of vitamin B1 in the brain. Symptoms include disturbances of one’s consciousness, speech difficulty, difficulty in walking, and death in worst case.
Korsakoff’s syndrome is also caused by a severe vitamin B1 deficiency in the brain. This condition is often seen in combination with Wernicke’s encephalopathy and is characterized by permanent memory damage.
Both Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome are treated with large vitamin B1 injections

Study methods and results

The team of researchers from Taiwan collected data from a large cohort study called the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 1995-2000. One group consisting of 5,000 participants was diagnosed as being alcoholic and was treated with vitamin B1 supplements, while another group that also consisted of around 5,000 alcohol abusers did not receive vitamin B1 supplements. The scientists adjusted for factors such as demography, age, gender, medicine consumption etc. and found that there was a lower rate of dementia in the group that was treated with vitamin B1. The researches also employed the so-called Kaplan-Meier analysis that shows the expected lifespan under given circumstances. According to this analysis, the alcoholics that took vitamin B1 supplements have a lower risk of developing dementia, a condition that is already known to reduce life expectancy.
On behalf of their observations, the scientists concluded that vitamin B1 supplements are important for preventing alcohol-induced dementia from occurring or getting worse. It is even possible that vitamin B1 supplements may reduce other types of damage as a result of drinking too much a single evening or for a brief period.

Facts about vitamin B1

Vitamin B1 is water-soluble. Because it is not stored in the body, we need a regular supply of the nutrient from our diet or from supplements
Vitamin B1 is mainly found in coarse greens and fresh produce, but you also get the nutrient from meat, cod roe, fish, and dairy products
Vitamin B1 is important for the energy metabolism, nerve and brain function, and mental balance.
Deficiencies or poor utilization of the nutrient may be a result of alcohol abuse, unhealthy diet habits, excess sugar consumption, diuretics, antacids, birth control pills, and stress
Minor vitamin B1 deficiency may cause persistent nausea, lack of appetite, weight loss, heart rhythm disturbances, fatigue, irritability, despair, and insomnia.
Severe deficiency may cause deficiency symptoms such as wet and dry beriberi, Wernicke’s encephalopathy, and Korsakoff’s syndrome

Reference intake level, increased need, and supplementation

The reference intake (RI) level is 1.1 mg, which is what most multivitamins contain, but there is increased need with alcoholism, stress etc. Vitamin B complexes with all the different B vitamins and mono preparations, however, many contain vitamin B1 in levels that exceed the RI level by more than 1,000 percent. There are no known side effects, and vitamin B1 can be ingested in rather large quantities without problems. The vitamin is water-soluble, which means that excess intake is excreted with the urine without causing poisoning.
In people who receive several injections of the vitamin, allergic reactions may occur from time to time.

Is it possible to waste your brain with alcohol?

Technically yes – to some degree

Alcohol also depletes the body’s vitamin C levels

Other studies show that alcohol abuse even depletes the body’s vitamin C levels, but supplements are likely to benefit the health of alcoholics. It is even possible that vitamin C supplements may reduce the damage of drinking too much for a short period, according to a review article that is published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health.

References:

Chou W-P, Chang et al. Thiamine for preventing dementia developing among patients with alcohol use disorder: A nationwide population-based cohort study. Clinical Nutrition 2019; 38 1269-73

Daniel James Lim et al. Vitamin C and alcoholics: a call to action. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & health 2018

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Created on 07 November 2019.