In chronic alcohol use with poor dietary intake, deficiencies commonly include which nutrients?

In chronic alcohol use with poor dietary intake, deficiencies commonly include which nutrients?

• A. Vitamin C
• B. Iron and B vitamins
• C. Vitamin D
• D. Iodine

Answer: (B)

Chronic alcohol use with poor dietary intake disrupts nutrition by reducing intake, impairing absorption, and increasing metabolic demands, so vitamins and minerals that rely on adequate intake and gut absorption are commonly lost. Iron and B vitamins are the nutrients most often deficient in this pattern. Alcohol interferes with the absorption and utilization of B vitamins—especially thiamine, folate, and other B vitamins—while also depleting hepatic stores, leading to conditions like Wernicke’s encephalopathy from thiamine deficiency and various anemias from folate/B12 deficiency. Iron deficiency is also common due to poor overall diet and potential gastrointestinal losses. Other nutrients listed, such as vitamin C, vitamin D, or iodine, can be affected in malnutrition but are not as characteristically tied to chronic alcohol use as iron and B vitamins.

Chronic alcohol use with poor dietary intake disrupts nutrition by reducing intake, impairing absorption, and increasing metabolic demands, so vitamins and minerals that rely on adequate intake and gut absorption are commonly lost. Iron and B vitamins are the nutrients most often deficient in this pattern. Alcohol interferes with the absorption and utilization of B vitamins—especially thiamine, folate, and other B vitamins—while also depleting hepatic stores, leading to conditions like Wernicke’s encephalopathy from thiamine deficiency and various anemias from folate/B12 deficiency. Iron deficiency is also common due to poor overall diet and potential gastrointestinal losses. Other nutrients listed, such as vitamin C, vitamin D, or iodine, can be affected in malnutrition but are not as characteristically tied to chronic alcohol use as iron and B vitamins.