Vitamin which is most likely to become deficient in alcoholics is

Options

A. Ascorbic acid
B. Thiamine
C. Niacin
D. Riboflavin

Answer

To determine which vitamin is most likely to become deficient in alcoholics, we can follow these steps:

1. **Understand the Impact of Alcohol on Nutrition**: Alcohol consumption can lead to malnutrition as it often replaces nutritious food in a person's diet. This can result in deficiencies of various vitamins and minerals.

2. **Identify Common Vitamin Deficiencies in Alcoholics**: Research shows that alcoholics are often deficient in several vitamins, particularly B vitamins. Common deficiencies include folic acid (Vitamin B9), thiamine (Vitamin B1), niacin (Vitamin B3), and riboflavin (Vitamin B2).

3. **Focus on Thiamine (Vitamin B1)**: Among the B vitamins, thiamine is particularly important. It plays a crucial role in carbohydrate metabolism and nerve function. Alcohol interferes with the absorption of thiamine and its conversion into its active form.

4. **Recognize the Symptoms of Thiamine Deficiency**: A deficiency in thiamine can lead to serious health issues, including Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which is characterized by confusion, memory problems, and motor function issues. This condition is often seen in chronic alcoholics.

5. **Conclude with the Most Likely Deficient Vitamin**: Given the information, thiamine (Vitamin B1) is the vitamin most likely to become deficient in alcoholics due to its critical role in metabolism and the effects of alcohol on its absorption.

**Final Answer**: The vitamin which is most likely to become deficient in alcoholics is thiamine (Vitamin B1).

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