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Groundbreaking Kudzu Study

None of the medications currently used to treat alcohol-related problems are universally effective. All have side effects that may limit their usefulness as well as reduce individual adherence to the prescribed dosage. Previous research has shown that an extract of an herbal plant called Pueraria lobata (kudzu), which contains isoflavones, can reduce alcohol consumption in rats and hamsters. Kudzu is a frequent ingredient in Chinese herbal medicine. This study tested kudzu’s effectiveness on alcohol consumption among heavy human drinkers.

Researchers recruited 14 (11 males, 3 females) self-reported “heavy” drinkers to participate in this study. “Heavy” alcohol consumption was defined as an average of nearly 26 drinks per week. Participants were given either a placebo or kudzu extract for seven days, and then given an opportunity to drink their preferred brand of beer while seated in a simulated natural environment that nonetheless allowed for observation and measurement.

Kudzu treatment resulted in a significant reduction in the number of beers consumed. This overall reduction was paralleled by an increase in the number of sips, an increase in the time to consume each beer, and a decrease in the volume of each sip. Furthermore, there were no reported side effects.

(Lukas, SE, Penetar, D, Berko, J, Vicens, L, Palmer, C, Mallya, G, Macklin, EA, Lee, DY-W: An extract of the Chinese herbal root kudzu reduces alcohol drinking by heavy drinkers in a naturalistic setting. Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research 29:756-762, 2005.)

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