B-vitamins don't get much attention in conversations about alcohol. They should. The depletion of these essential nutrients is one of the most direct and measurable effects of drinking — and one of the most overlooked.
What B-Vitamins Actually Do
The B-vitamin family — B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folate), and B12 (cobalamin) — are water-soluble vitamins that serve as cofactors in hundreds of enzymatic reactions throughout the body. They're involved in:
- Energy metabolism (converting food into usable energy) - Nervous system function - Red blood cell production - DNA synthesis and repair - Neurotransmitter synthesis — including serotonin, dopamine, and GABA
Because they're water-soluble, your body doesn't store large reserves. You need a consistent supply from food or supplementation, and any disruption to absorption or increased excretion can lead to rapid depletion.
How Alcohol Depletes Them
Alcohol affects B-vitamin status through multiple pathways:
Reduced absorption. Alcohol damages the cells lining the small intestine, impairing the transport mechanisms that absorb thiamine, folate, and B12.
Increased urinary excretion. Alcohol is a diuretic. As fluid is excreted more rapidly, water-soluble vitamins go with it.
Increased metabolic demand. The metabolism of ethanol itself requires B-vitamin cofactors — particularly thiamine and niacin. The more you drink, the more of these vitamins are consumed in the metabolic process.
Impaired liver storage. The liver stores and activates several B-vitamins. Alcohol-related liver stress impairs this function over time.
The Mood Connection
Pyridoxine (B6) deserves special mention. It's the rate-limiting cofactor in the synthesis of serotonin, dopamine, and GABA — three neurotransmitters that directly govern mood, motivation, and anxiety.
When B6 is depleted, the production of these neurotransmitters drops. This is a significant contributor to the next-day low mood, irritability, and anxiety that many people experience after drinking — what's sometimes called "hangxiety." It's not purely psychological. It has a clear biochemical basis.
Why We Include the Full Complex
Reeva includes the complete B-complex — B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12 — at doses designed to be meaningful, not token. We've specifically prioritised B6 and B1 (thiamine), which have the most direct relationship to alcohol metabolism and next-day neurological symptoms.
Taken before drinking, the goal is to top up your reserves before depletion begins, rather than trying to replenish them after the fact.