NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF ALCOHOLICS BEFORE AND AFTER DE-ADDICTION AND NUTRITION EDUCATION FOR ALCOHOLICS

摘要

Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychological and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. Alcohol consumption shows large inter individual variability, ranging from zero to more than 100 g per day. Alcohol has been called an "anti-nutrient nutrient" because it provides calories but no vitamins or minerals. In fact alcohol depletes the body of several nutrients, in particular causes mal-absorption of thiamine, vitamin B, folic acid, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus and amino-acids. In excess, alcohol may cause malnutrition or act as a toxin and induce pathological changes in a variety of tissues. Alcohol especially excessive consumption for an extended period,results in bone loss. Unlike other fuel nutrients such as carbohydrates, fat and proteins; alcohol can be used as a fuel only by a liver cell. When alcohol is present, fat is not burnt. It accumulates in the liver (causing liver damage) and is releasedinto the blood. The current study was aimed to assess the nutrient intake and anthropometric indices of alcoholics, to evaluate their health status, before and after de-addiction and to impart nutrition education.