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Updated: July 17, 2025

5 Supplements That Support Alcohol Recovery

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Recovering from alcohol abuse or dependence is a process that involves healing the mind, spirit, and body. Years of alcohol use can damage your body in ways you might not expect, including depriving it of essential nutrients.

The result is an ever-present sense of fatigue, anxiety, and mental fog that can make the first days of alcohol recovery difficult to manage. Fortunately, the human body is an impressive system that requires only a few key nutrients to jumpstart the restoration process.

There are key vitamins and minerals – which can often be found in food and supplements – that can replenish what alcohol took away. With the right regimen and a support team, you can repair years of damage to your body and increase your chances of long-term recovery.

Why Focus On Supplements In Alcohol Recovery?

Alcohol addiction and abuse recovery often requires a combination of detoxification and nutrient enhancement, all with the goal of helping restore your body and mind to a natural state.

Many people in the early stages of recovery struggle with physical symptoms that may not feel like part of the withdrawal process, from intense mood swings to digestive issues and more. There are a few reasons why trying to detox from alcohol can lead to challenging symptoms:

Alcohol Use Disrupts Your Body’s Natural Nutrient Absorption Process

Alcohol use damages the lining of your intestines, which can reduce your body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals from food and drink.

This inflammation can persist for months after you stop drinking, and can take time to restore, even if you’re eating and drinking properly again.

Plus, alcohol acts as a diuretic, which forces your body to excrete many water-soluble vitamins your body needs (B-complex vitamins and vitamin C).

Alcohol Damages Your Liver – and Its Ability to Process Nutrients

Your liver plays an incredibly important role in your body, working to store and metabolize vitamins and minerals while ridding your body of toxins.

When alcohol damages and depletes your liver’s ability to function properly, you’ll find it struggles to keep up.

The liver is supposed to store and process vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as several B vitamins. When it can’t store and process properly, other parts of your body that depend on those vitamins and nutrients will start to suffer as well.

5 Best Supplements to Help Alcohol Recovery

Your body’s nutrients are the fuel that keeps all your other systems moving smoothly. Run out, and you’ll begin to notice that the chemicals that regulate mood, sleep, and cravings go haywire.

That’s why replacing and restoring your nutrient levels, particularly during alcohol recovery, is so important. In partnership with a rehab and recovery team, you can help your body move from addiction to recovery faster with the right supplements.

Supplement #1 – B-Complex Vitamins

B-complex vitamins are among the most important supplements anyone recovering from alcohol use disorder can receive.

These are highly water-soluble vitamins, which alcohol use depletes from the body quickly. Lacking enough B-complex vitamins can lead to memory problems, depression, fatigue, and more.

In particular, Thiamine (B1) is key to preventing serious brain complications like Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. It’s often one of the first supplements given in detox settings.

Other B-complex vitamins, such as Pyridoxine (B6) (for neurotransmitter production) and Cobalamin (B12) (for nerve health and energy), are also added to a nutrient regimen to boost recovery.

Supplement #2 – Magnesium

Magnesium is often referred to as “nature’s relaxation mineral” and helps regulate your body’s circadian rhythm as well as your mood and stress responses.

But magnesium is severely depleted by alcohol use, which is why you often find alcohol disrupting sleep and leading to a worse mood once its effects wear off.

During alcohol recovery, magnesium supplements are used to help recharge over 300 enzymatic reactions in your body. It helps to regulate the stress response and neurotransmitter function in your body and works to return you to a more balanced state.

Supplement #3 – Milk Thistle (Silymarin)

You may be familiar with B vitamins and magnesium, but have you heard of silymarin?

Milk thistle contains silymarin, which is a compound that can support liver repair and regeneration. As a natural herbal supplement, milk thistle offers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits that boost your liver function as well as your immune system.

While it can’t fully reverse the damage done to your liver, milk thistle can be a great addition to recovery care when sourced and used appropriately.

Supplement #4 – L-Glutamine

Ever find that alcohol recovery leaves you with an upset stomach and inconsistent bowel movements? Consistent use of alcohol can damage the microbiome of bacteria that help process food and remove waste in your gut, which leads to a variety of health issues.

To restore your gut bacteria to their normal state, the amino acid L-glutamine is used to help boost your digestive system. L-glutamine works to rebuild your stomach lining barrier, which can improve nutrient absorption and reduce inflammation.

Many people report that L-glutamine supplementation helps stabilize blood sugar levels, reduces anxiety, and decreases cravings – all of which can help in recovery.

Supplement #5 – Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids (particularly EPA and DHA found in fish oil) can be incredibly helpful in restoring your brain health and reducing inflammation caused by chronic alcohol use.

Healthy fats have been shown to support neuroplasticity, which is your brain’s ability to form new connections and heal.

Plus, they have been shown to help improve mood regulation and boost cognitive function. When combined, you’ll find these benefits enhance your decision-making and give you an extra boost in pushing through more difficult stages of recovery.

Tips for Using Supplements Safely in Alcohol Recovery

Supplements can play a wonderful role in helping enhance the recovery process, but they aren’t a cure alone.

That’s why working alongside a trained and compassionate care team is necessary to make sure you move from addiction to recovery properly. Your care team can help you choose the best supplements for your recovery and guide you through their proper use.

Always Work With Your Healthcare Provider Before Using Supplements

It’s important to always work with your healthcare provider and recovery team before starting any supplement regimen. It’s even more critical if you’re currently using medications or have underlying health conditions.

Some supplements can interact with prescription medications commonly used in recovery treatment, so dosages will have to be monitored and chosen properly to avoid any complications.

Choose Quality Supplements

Always use the right supplements, and look into their quality. Working with your care team, start with lower doses to see how your body interacts, and increase as tolerated. As your body begins to heal, you’ll find that different supplements in different amounts will work better.

Combine Supplements with Alcohol Recovery Programs

Supplements work best when they are part of a larger recovery approach that includes proper nutrition, therapy, support groups, and medical care.

Think of them as supportive tools rather than standalone solutions. Choosing to work with a professional alcohol detox center can help you find the right treatment option for you and help you get to long-term recovery without risking relapse.

Healing Your Body and Mind Together Matters In Recovery

Using supplements to aid in alcohol abuse or dependence is only part of a much larger recovery process.

While these vitamins and minerals can do wonders to restore your body’s natural healing processes, they’re most effective when you combine them with a treatment program that addresses all parts of recovery equally.

Recovery goes beyond putting a stop to destructive substance use. It’s about working to build a lifestyle that supports long-term health and happiness.

A holistic addiction treatment program can help you move through each stage of the recovery process to make sure your body, mind, and spirit are cared for and that your recovery is long-lasting.

Are you ready to begin the process of healing your body and mind from the impacts of addiction? Contact Genesis House today and learn more about our alcohol recovery programs. Our private, personalized support is designed to bring you whole-life healing and recovery.

We know that real recovery involves addressing all aspects of your health – and we’re only a call away. Learn more today.

Disclaimer: Any claims in this content are for educational purposes only. This is not medical advice, and should not be taken as such. Consult with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your lifestyle or treatment plan.