Question

A person known to be an alcoholic appears at the emergency room, and he is stumbling around and mostly incoherent when he speaks. Which deficiency should he be checked for?

1) Vitamin C deficiency
2) Iron deficiency
3) Vitamin B12 deficiency
4) Calcium deficiency

Answer 1

A stumbling, incoherent alcoholic in the emergency room should be assessed for thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency, which can lead to neurological issues such as Wernicke's encephalopathy, a condition frequently associated with alcohol abuse.

Step-by-step explanation:

A person known to be an alcoholic who presents with stumbling and incoherence should be checked for a thiamine deficiency, which is part of the Vitamin B complex (specifically Vitamin B1). The clinical condition of severe thiamine deficiency is known as Wernicke's encephalopathy, particularly common amongst alcoholics. Alcohol impairs thiamine absorption and increases its excretion, leading to a deficiency.

Thiamine is critical for nerve function and energy metabolism; its deficiency can cause serious neurological issues such as confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia, and may develop into Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome if not treated. Hence, Vitamin B1 levels should be assessed in this case, rather than Vitamin C, iron, or calcium deficiencies, which are less commonly associated with alcoholism.