Primary malnutrition occurs when an alcoholic fails to eat adequately. Alcoholics eat less because alcohol tends to suppress the appetite. Furthermore, its abuse might replace normal eating patterns, and someone who is abusing alcohol might not have enough money to buy food. Secondary malnutrition occurs because the body is unable to absorb or use nutrients that are consumed. This can happen because alcohol can directly damage the stomach and intestines.
Alcohol can also compete with nutrients for absorption.
The vitamins that are most likely to be deficient in alcoholics include the vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, C, K, A, and D, as well as folic acid and niacin. Alcoholics are most likely to lack the minerals selenium, zinc, magnesium, iron and phosphorous. A deficiency in any of these nutrients has an impact on health. In alcoholics, the deficiency that most people are familiar with is a deficiency of thiamine. This brain disorder manifests as mental confusion, paralysis of eye muscles, poor movement coordination and memory loss.