Malnourishment among alcoholics is common but will not necessarily develop in every alcoholic. A survey at the Royal Free Hospital in London of 55 "socially adequate working alcoholics" with liver damage showed only16 to be clinically malnourished. "Dietary imbalance is more common than gross deficiencies," reports the author in "Nutrition and the Alcoholic," The Lancet, February 25, 1984.

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. . . health can be restored . . . if the patient abstains from alcohol while taking protein and vitamin supplements. If abstaining is not possible, a well-balanced diet consisting of 2,000 calories daily is recommended along with vitamin supplements.

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Most often the effect of nutrition or lack of it depends on the organ damaged by excessive intake of alcohol. For example, alcoholic liver disease leads to failure of protein synthesis and amino acid imbalance; reduced storage of zinc, vitamins B6 and A; and an increased rate of metabolism. Other vitamins which may be deficient in alcoholics are B1, niacin, folate, B12, and vitamins C, D, and K. When alcohol contributes up to 50% of total calorie intake, high protein diets are often recommended.

Good health can be restored, the authors conclude, particularly for the moderate alcoholic if the patient abstains from alcohol while taking protein and vitamin supplements. If abstaining is not possible, a well-balanced diet consisting of 2,000 calories daily is recommended along with vitamin supplements.