Alcohol Interactions with Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know

When it comes to dietary supplements, there are certain types that can interact with alcohol and cause side effects. Learn more about how supplements interact with alcohol.

Alcohol Interactions with Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know

When it comes to dietary supplements, there are certain types that can interact with alcohol and cause side effects. St. John's Wort, Valerian, and Kava are some of the most common supplements that can have adverse reactions when combined with alcohol. Numerous studies have evaluated the effects of alcohol consumption on vitamin A and beta-carotene levels in the liver and blood.

In the liver, both excessive alcohol consumption and the use of other drugs can reduce levels of vitamin A. These drugs increase the activity of liver enzymes that break down vitamin A and similar molecules (Leo et al.).Taking medications at different times can reduce the risk of adverse interactions. Other research compared the levels of beta-carotene, vitamin A and other molecules related to these two compounds in the blood and liver of patients with alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease, in the normal livers of transplant donors, and in the blood of normal control subjects (Leo et al.). Alcohol is known to exaggerate the effects of sedatives and depressants and, in extreme cases, this can make a person vulnerable to respiratory suppression or loss of consciousness.

Like most medications, beta-blockers can have side effects and can also interact with other medications. Vitamin A levels in the liver of healthy people and patients with various stages of alcoholic liver disease were also studied. Nor did vitamin E show any positive effect in a trial with patients with alcoholic cirrhosis who received supplements of the compound (de la Maza et al.). The article then summarizes the general influence of a person's nutrition on their liver function and explores the most important pathways of alcohol metabolism and their relationships with various nutritional factors. It is important to note that supplement overdoses are relatively rare, but the ethanol found in alcohol makes it much more likely that you'll experience a deadly reaction. Similarly, alcohol promotes the breakdown of nutrients such as vitamin A, of which alcoholics may already consume very little in their diet.

Therefore, administering vitamin A to correct a deficiency is difficult and must be carefully controlled, especially in the presence of alcohol abuse, which exacerbates the toxicity of vitamin A.As mentioned in the previous sections, alcohol consumption and alcohol metabolism can cause harmful effects on the liver through numerous pathways related to nutrition and metabolism in the drinker. In the liver, reduced levels of vitamin A can change the structures of the components of some cells, and these changes can be aggravated by alcohol consumption (Leo et al.).Since nutritional supplementation with the antioxidant GSH or its component, cysteine, is not an effective way to ensure adequate levels of GSH in the liver of alcoholics, researchers have sought other compounds that could promote GSH production. You may find it difficult to function at work, interact with other people, and maintain cognitive coherence. Seizures are a particularly frightening symptom that can indicate a toxic reaction to alcohol and supplements.

Rauwolfia serpentina and alcohol can have additive effects in reducing blood pressure (hypotension).