Herbal supplement linked to decline in excessive alcohol consumption

According to Medscape and other reports, a clinical trial published online on November 4 in the American Journal of Psychiatry investigated the effects of kudzu extract on alcohol consumption. Lead investigator Glenn-Milo Santos, PhD, MPH, of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), stated that the findings could expand treatment options for binge drinking. The double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 120 adults with alcohol use disorder who reported binge drinking at least once weekly and wanted to reduce their intake. Participants had a median age of 39 years and were randomly assigned to receive 2 g of oral kudzu extract or a matching placebo. They were instructed to take the study medication at least 2.5 hours before anticipated heavy drinking or when experiencing cravings, alongside receiving brief alcohol-use counseling during the 12-week treatment period.

Medscape reported that participants taking kudzu extract had 27% fewer binge-drinking days than those receiving placebo over the 12 weeks. At baseline, both groups reported an average of 2.15 binge-drinking days per week, which declined to 1.42 days in the kudzu group compared with 2.06 days in the placebo group. The Independent noted that binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more drinks on one occasion for women and five or more for men. According to Medscape, the difference between the groups persisted at a 3-month posttreatment follow-up. Furthermore, an as-treated analysis of participants averaging at least 2.7 doses per week showed a 42% reduction in binge-drinking days compared with placebo.

Despite these results, the primary intention-to-treat analysis showed kudzu did not significantly reduce total monthly drinks or objective alcohol biomarkers like PEth and urinary ethyl glucuronide, nor did it significantly alter alcohol craving or dependence severity. Vinetur and Medscape noted that the evidence remains preliminary and larger studies are needed before kudzu can be routinely recommended. Henry R. Kranzler, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, cautioned that commercially available kudzu products lack standardized dosing and purification standards. UCSF researchers and Santos stated that they hope to continue studying the supplement in diverse populations to confirm findings and establish long-term durability.