Submitted by supinator1 t3_yaxc56 in askscience
j0m1n1n t1_itfzhlg wrote
Oh! I can give you some answers here! I wrote a paper on this a couple of semesters back for a human physiology class.
-
Alcohol interferes with absorption of thiamine in the gut.
-
Alcohol interferes with the conversion of thiamine to thiamine pyrophosphate, which is the form that participates in the citric acid cycle.
-
Alcoholics tend to have poor diets overall.
-
They will often have other nutritional deficiencies as well, but thiamine deficiency in alcoholics can lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome which can cause brain damage, cognitive deficits, memory loss, and even death. So treating thiamine deficiency is often a higher priority than other deficiencies.
BigBillyGoatGriff t1_itg3m25 wrote
I give this to ppl constantly thanks for telling me why.
RockleyBob t1_itgtmku wrote
If you work in a rehab facility or treat addicts in a hospital, thank you for your service. I'm a success story and it's because I got good care.
Unrealgecko t1_itgz5vw wrote
Yay! And anyone reading this: don’t wait to go. Go when the symptoms are mild; if you are turning yellow or feel your heart racing, it’s time!
damnitmcnabbit t1_ith59hm wrote
Why is heart racing symptomatic?
CardiOMG t1_ithggxq wrote
Alcohol is a depressant. When you are withdrawing, your nervous system is over activated. So you can have tachycardia, hypertension, tremors, etc.
[deleted] t1_itqawk0 wrote
[removed]
cremasterreflex0903 t1_ithewxn wrote
Possibly due to cardiogenic shock from multisystem organ failure. Without lab work and facts thsts pure speculation. Jaundice points to liver failure and tachycardia can be caused by a ton of things.
[deleted] t1_ithgcjj wrote
[removed]
BigBillyGoatGriff t1_ithxi4w wrote
If you are turning yellow it's far past time but give it a shot it will be the last chance.
[deleted] t1_itgv2y2 wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itghcc7 wrote
[removed]
FoThizzleMaChizzle t1_ith0p1v wrote
Super interesting! When I was 20, I visited a detox facility and there was a guy there who I was told had "wet-brain". I just now learned, after 12 years, what this actually means.
He was reduced to the level of a hallucinating child, talking about how he was about to be forced into the army, then woke up with paramedics standing over him on the sidewalk.
[deleted] t1_itghgba wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itge91e wrote
[removed]
MenWhoStareAtBoats t1_ithdsw4 wrote
This is the correct answer. Another factor is that the body stores thiamine in the liver, and chronic alcoholics often have damaged livers.
j0m1n1n t1_ithfgf5 wrote
Yes, thank you! I was trying to remember one more mechanism that I discussed in my paper. You hit the nail on the head.
[deleted] t1_itga6ce wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itgan52 wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itgi6kd wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itgc63z wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itgfgq4 wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itgcrjp wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itghwo8 wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itgt7gl wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itgd39j wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itgd0g2 wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_ith556p wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itgbulp wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itgdxyp wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itgd6ce wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itgeniz wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itgjh69 wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itghtl8 wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itgksar wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itgih1g wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itgz4qz wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itg7xa9 wrote
[removed]
[deleted] t1_itg9aud wrote
[removed]
Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments