Vitamin B Regulation of Alcoholic Liver Disease

Chronic alcoholism may result in generalized malnutrition with multiple vitamin deficiencies. Folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 are involved in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease through their effects on hepatic methionine metabolism that regulates methylation potential and epigenetic control over the expressions of genes involved in alcoholic liver injury. This chapter focuses first on the effects of chronic alcoholism on metabolism and maintenance of these three vitamins, and their roles in hepatic methionine metabolism; second, on the interactions of hepatic methionine metabolism in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease; and third, on evidence for epigenetic regulation of the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease through changes in vitamin dependent methylation of relevant genes.