Oral vitamins in alcohol intoxication
Muir, G.; Pollitt, N.; Rooney, J.
Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol 34(2): 373-380
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0033-5649 PMID: 4713830 Document Number: 65383
Water-soluble vitamins or a placebo was given before measured doses of alcohol to 18 male volunteer social drinkers. Vitamin dose was 90 mg thiamin hydrochloride, 300 mg nicotinamide, 90 mg riboflavin and 60 mg pyridoxine hydrochloride. After vitamins with breakfast, the men were weighed and given whisky or gin 2 ml/kg bodyweight 5 min after the first of hourly blood samples was taken. They were then asked to perform psychological tests. None showed underlying psychopathology. A personality factor test gave no significant difference in scores before or after alcohol, or between vitamin and control session. On the Visual Analogue Scale subjects rated themselves as expected, with no difference between vitamin and control sessions. With the Gibson Spiral Maze and simple arithmetic tests, errors rose after alcohol. In those given vitamins and in controls errors reached a peak 1 to 2 h after alcohol was taken. It was concluded that B-complex vitamin intake before alcohol was not effective in reducing intoxication.