Which deficiency syndrome may result from long-term alcohol abuse?

• A. Pellagra
• B. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
• C. Beriberi
• D. Scurvy

Answer: (B)

Long-term alcohol use commonly causes thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, which can progress to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Thiamine is essential for glucose metabolism in the brain, supporting enzymes that help generate cellular energy. When thiamine is scarce, brain regions such as the mamillary bodies and thalamus become energy-starved, leading to the acute presentation of Wernicke’s encephalopathy (eye movement abnormalities, ataxia, and confusion) and the later development of Korsakoff syndrome, characterized by severe memory impairment and confabulation.

Pellagra is niacin deficiency and can occur with poor nutrition, but it is not the classic neurological syndrome directly linked to chronic alcohol abuse. Beriberi is also a thiamine deficiency, but the specific syndrome most strongly associated with alcohol-related thiamine deficiency is Wernicke-Korsakoff. Scurvy is vitamin C deficiency and is not typically related to alcohol abuse.