Alcoholic neuropathy: Causes, symptoms, and treatment

Chronic alcoholism can alter the intake, absorption and utilization of various nutrients (nicotinic acid, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate or vitamin E). Deficiencies of B vitamins other than thiamine also may contribute to variation in clinical features, but characteristic symptoms of multiple vitamin deficiency were not seen in patients with thiamine deficiency neuropathies due to gastrectomy and dietary imbalance [26]. Thus, these vitamin deficiencies were not considered to be major causal factors of neuropathy [26]. Malnutrition has been implicated in the pathology of alcohol-related neuropathy by several authors. The data, however, is conflicting as to the role which malnutrition plays. The majority of studies which investigate the relationship between malnutrition and neuropathy focus on thiamine deficiency as an aetiological factor, drawing upon existing knowledge of Beri Beri.

A review of the human literature implicates nutritional deficiencies, most often thiamine deficiency, that are common in alcoholic patients, as commonly accompanying complicating factors in the development of this neuropathy. Persons with alcoholism may consume smaller amounts of essential alcohol neuropathy nutrients and vitamins and/or exhibit impaired gastrointestinal absorption of these nutrients secondary to the direct effects of alcohol. As yet there is no effective therapeutic intervention available for relieving the neuropathic pain due to chronic alcohol consumption.

Oxidative-nitrosative stress and alcoholic neuropathy

In many cases, treating the condition or problem that causes your neuropathy can curb nerve damage and ease your symptoms. If you have symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, you should see a healthcare provider as soon as possible. In some cases, peripheral neuropathy symptoms start before the condition causes permanent changes or damage, so it may be possible to limit the effects or even reverse them. Thiamine serves as an important coenzyme in carbohydrate metabolism and neuron development. The lack of thiamine in the nervous system affects the cellular structure and can cause cell membrane damage and irregular ectopic cells. Other vitamin deficiencies seen with alcohol abuse include, but are not limited to, B-vitamins, folic acid, and vitamin-E.

• The authors concluded that malnutrition, including low blood concentrations of B vitamins, is not a prerequisite for the development of alcoholic neuropathy, and ethanol per se plays a role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic neuropathy.
• But unlike most food products, in the last century, alcohol has been wrapped up in nearly perpetual controversy over its moral effects and health implications.
• The family history of alcoholism was also found as a high-risk factor of the disease.
• As a result, it is usually necessary to get medical help to manage alcohol use disorder.

However, recognizing the symptoms and seeking medical attention early can minimize the impact of the condition. When speaking with a doctor, it is important to be honest about alcohol consumption. There are several possible causes of neuropathy, and knowing about a person’s alcohol intake can help the doctor to make an accurate diagnosis. Some researchers estimate that 65 percent of people in the United https://ecosoberhouse.com/ States who have been diagnosed with alcohol use disorder also have alcoholic neuropathy. Some experts believe it has more to do with the alcohol’s activation of mGlue5 receptors, or perhaps its ability to trigger the sympathoadrenal and hypothalami-pituitary-adrenal axis. Alcoholic neuropathy is simply peripheral neuropathy triggered by the excessive consumption of alcohol over extended periods of time.

Natural history

There is damage to the nerves due to the direct toxic effect of alcohol and the malnutrition induced by it. Patients present with pain, ataxia and parasthesias in the lower extremities. This activity describes the evaluation and management of alcoholic neuropathy and reviews the role of the interprofessional team in improving care for patients with this condition. In general, the nerves in lower limbs were more affected than the upper limbs [3, 37–39]. Four studies reported abnormalities only in sensory nerves [33, 47, 63, 64], while ten reported abnormalities in both sensory and motor nerves [2–4, 16, 38, 54, 56, 58, 59, 65]. This may be a reflection of the severity of the neuropathy in which motor nerve function is affected at a later stage.