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Is Vitamin D Deficiency a Confounder in Alcoholic Skeletal Muscle Myopathy?

  1. Jan W. Wijnia1,*,
  2. Jos P. M. Wielders2,
  3. Paul Lips3,
  4. Albert van de Wiel4,
  5. Cornelis L. Mulder5,
  6. K. Gerrit A. Nieuwenhuis1

Article first published online: 14 DEC 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2012.01902.x

Issue

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research

Volume 37, Issue Supplement s1, pages E209–E215, January 2013

Additional Information

How to Cite

Wijnia, J. W., Wielders, J. P. M., Lips, P., van de Wiel, A., Mulder, C. L. and Nieuwenhuis, K. G. A. (2013), Is Vitamin D Deficiency a Confounder in Alcoholic Skeletal Muscle Myopathy?. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 37: E209–E215. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2012.01902.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Rijnmond Care Group, Location Slingedael, Center for Korsakoff and Psychogeriatrics, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

  2. 2

    Department of Clinical Chemistry, Meander Medical Center, Amersfoort, The Netherlands

  3. 3

    Endocrine Section, Department of Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  4. 4

    Department of Internal Medicine, Meander Medical Center, Amersfoort, The Netherlands

  5. 5

    Department of Psychiatry, Research Center O3, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

*Reprint requests: Jan W. Wijnia, MD, Rijnmond Care Group, Location Slingedael, Center for Korsakoff and Psychogeriatrics, Slinge 901, 3086 EZ Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Tel.: +31 10 29 31 555; Fax: +31 10 29 31 595; E-mail: j.wijnia@zorggroeprijnmond.nl

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 15 JAN 2013
  2. Article first published online: 14 DEC 2012
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 19 MAY 2012
  4. Manuscript Received: 2 DEC 2011

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Keywords:

  • Alcoholism;
  • Vitamin D Deficiency;
  • Alcohol-Related Disorders;
  • Myopathy;
  • Muscular Atrophy

Background

Excessive intake of alcohol is often associated with low or subnormal levels of vitamin D even in the absence of active liver disease. As vitamin D deficiency is a well-recognized cause of myopathy, alcoholic myopathy might be related to vitamin D deficiency. Chronic alcoholic myopathy affects approximately half of chronic alcoholics and is characterized by the insidious development of muscular weakness and wasting. Although alcohol or its metabolites may have a direct toxic effect on muscles, the relationship between alcoholic myopathy and vitamin D deficiency has not been examined extensively.

Methods

We reviewed the literature on alcoholic myopathy and hypovitaminosis D myopathy and compared the pathophysiological findings to designate possible mechanisms of vitamin D action in alcohol-related myopathy.

Results and Conclusions

Given the strong interdependency of suboptimal levels of vitamin D, phosphate, and magnesium in chronic alcohol abuse, we hypothesize that combined deficiencies interfere with membrane and intracellular metabolic processes in chronic alcohol-related myopathy; however, it is not yet possible to define exact mechanisms of interaction.

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