Taken together, these data suggest that the administration of kudzu root extract does not disturb sleep/wake cycles of moderate drinkers and as such, its utility as an adjunct treatment for alcohol dependence remains free of any hidden side-effects on sleep quality. These results provide further evidence that kudzu root extract is likely to be safe for treatment for alcohol dependence. It is not known whether kudzu root extract has an effect on sleep stages, because this study did not record night-time polysomnography or assess sleep architecture. First, this method allowed us to assess sleep continuously for the entire 9-day treatment periods. Second, one goal of this study was to measure behavior and craving while participants went about their daily lives, and use of the wrist actigraphy device allowed this assessment to take place in the participants’ home environments. Third, this study already required participants to make several =https://ecosoberhouse.com/ visits to the lab for measurements of alcohol metabolism and intoxication after alcohol administration.
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Persons who responded to these advertisements were given a brief telephone screen, and invited to the laboratory for further evaluations. Persons of Asian descent were excluded because of their known increased flushing reaction to alcohol. Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) outside the range of 18–25 kg/m2 were also excluded. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial tested the effects of kudzu root extract on the sleep/wake cycles of moderate drinkers. To preserve the double-blind, kudzu and placebo capsules were repacked into #00 opaque capsules (Apothecary Products, Minneapolis, MN).
Kudzu root benefits
Participants continued to take their medication through the morning of day 9 prior to the alcohol drink challenge. Following the first set of challenge sessions, there was a 1 month ‘washout’ period during which no medication was taken. This washout period provided ample time to eliminate pharmacodynamic interactions between kudzu and placebo treatment conditions. After the one-month washout, a second period of treatment and two drinking challenge days was conducted identical to the first treatment period. One Chinese herbal medicine, XJL (NPI-028), has long been used to reduce the inebriation that results from alcohol consumption. NPI-028 contains the extracts of several plants including Puerariae lobata (kudzu) and Citrus reticulata, which have long been used to lower intoxication (Sun, 600).
Scott E Lukas, PhD
Analysis was performed on every 5 minute sample after the commencement of drinking for 75 minutes, and on samples taken at 90, 120, 150, and 180 minutes. Research has demonstrated that taking a kudzu extract prior to drinking can reduce alcoholic intake by between 30 and 50%. The way it appears to work is that the isoflavones speed up the effect of alcohol on the brain, alerting us to slow down. However, it does not make people feel more drunk, or affect their physical abilities or mental agility.
Daidzin has been shown to inhibit hamster and rat mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH-2) in vitro and is a mixed inhibitor of the human enzyme (Keung et al., 1997). If isoflavones such as daidzin significantly increase acetaldehyde levels in humans in vivo, then this could kudzu extract for alcoholism be a possible mechanism of action. However, in a pilot toxicity study we found no change in acetaldehyde levels in kudzu-treated humans after drinking alcohol (unpublished data). The transient effects of subjective ratings of dizziness alone are insufficient to suggest the presence of a disulfiram-like effect as a result of kudzu administration. Thus, altered acetaldehyde metabolism is not a likely explanation for kudzu extract effects in humans. Acute alcohol administration resulted in expected, dose-related alterations in subjective, psychomotor, cognitive, and physiological effects.
- In addition, this was not a treatment clinical trial, so the effects on alcohol intake might have been more robust in treatment-seeking individuals.
- Because of this effect, it might also be helpful for people who have quit drinking and want to make sure that a potential slip doesn’t become a full-blown relapse.
- Research has found that kudzu can help reduce hot flashes and night sweats, as well as improve sleep quality.
- This product may adversely interact with certain health and medical conditions, other prescription and over-the-counter drugs, foods, or other dietary supplements.
- This is because isoflavones can help dilate blood vessels, allowing for better blood flow.
- During this time, alcohol increased heart rate consistent with previous reports (Kouri et al., 2004; Penetar et al., 2009).
The last study above was designed to test the hypothesis that kudzu accelerates the subjective experience of Alcoholics Anonymous alcohol intoxication. If this were the primary effect of kudzu increasing blood flow, then subjects should feel more intoxicated with fewer drinks after taking it. McLean Hospital has just negotiated a licensing agreement for kudzu root extract with Natural Pharmacia International, Inc., Burlington, MA. No competing financial interest exists for Bethany K. Bracken, David M. Penetar, R. Ross Maclean, or Scott E. Lukas. A computerized Continuous Performance Test II (CPT II) (Conners, 2000) was used to assess sustained attention and concentration abilities.
- Regardless of the actual mechanism of action, it is widely accepted that the isoflavones in kudzu are effective in reducing alcohol intake in a number of mammalian species.
- It is important to fully inform your doctor about the herbal, vitamins, mineral or any other supplements you are taking before any kind of surgery or medical procedure.
- However, there are no kudzu products on the market in the UK carrying the THR mark.
- We are currently engaged in studies employing proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to directly measure whether kudzu extract alters the rate and concentration of alcohol that actually enters the human brain.
- Although I’m sure it would have helped me detoxify, I did not use it after I quit drinking.
- The test structure consists of 6 blocks and 3 sub-blocks, each containing 20 trials (letter presentations).
Kudzu’s Benefits for Health
Moreover, another study found that consuming puerarin before drinking slowed alcohol consumption, suggesting kudzu may aid in preventing binge drinking. Kudzu root’s isoflavones, especially puerarin, are linked to reduced alcohol consumption. The major dependent variable was self-reported alcohol consumption as measured via the wrist actigraphy device.
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Two hours before the first visit, we gave both sub-groups a pill – neither group knew whether they were getting the supplement or the placebo. The amount of alcohol consumed was calculated for each group (1 unit per drink of beer or spirits, 1.6 units per glass of wine). According to a study in Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, puerarin reduced alcohol-induced liver damage in mice by neutralizing harmful free radicals. Kudzu Root (Pueraria lobata), often called Japanese arrowroot, is a climbing vine native to East Asia.