Kudzu Curbs Alcohol Consumption 33321

Kudzu Curbs Alcohol Consumption

BOSTON--Researchers from the Harvard-affiliated McLean hospital foundkudzu root extract contains isoflavones which appear to curb intake of alcoholicbeverages. The study results, published in the May 2005 issue of AlcoholismClinical and Experimental Research (29, 5:756-762, 2005) (http://www.alcoholism-cer.com), were based on 14 male and female participantsin their 20s, who regularly consumed three to four alcoholic drinks per day.Upon being treated with kudzu or placebo for seven days, participants were giventhe opportunity to drink their preferred brand of beer while watching televisionfor four 90-minute sessions in a naturalistic laboratory setting. Participantsserved as their own controls; order of treatment exposure was counterbalancedand drinking behavior was monitored by a digital scale.

Researchers found a significant reduction in the number of beers consumed bysubjects treated with kudzu compared to those given placebo, 1.8 beers and 3.5beers per participant, per session, respectively. Those treated with kudzuincreased quantity of sips and time spent consuming each beer, and decreased thevolume of each sip. Treatment did not have a significant effect on the urge todrink alcohol. No side effects were reported. Researchers concluded kudzu may beuseful in reducing alcohol consumption.