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A standardized kudzu extract (NPI-031) reduces alcohol consumption in nontreatment-seeking male heavy drinkers

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Abstract

Objective

We previously demonstrated that short-term treatment with a standardized kudzu extract (NPI-031) reduced alcohol drinking by men and women in a natural setting. The present study was conducted in nontreatment-seeking heavy drinkers to assess the safety and efficacy of 4 weeks of kudzu extract in an outpatient setting.

Method

This randomized between-subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involved 2 weeks of baseline, 4 weeks of treatment, and 2 weeks of follow-up. Seventeen men (21–33 years) who reported drinking 27.6 ± 6.5 drinks/week with a diagnosis of alcohol abuse/dependence took either kudzu extract (250 mg isoflavones, t.i.d.) or matched placebo on a daily basis. They reported alcohol consumption and desire to use alcohol using a wrist actigraphy device; twice weekly laboratory visits were scheduled to monitor medication adherence and adverse events.

Results

Medication adherence was excellent and there were no adverse events and changes in vital signs, blood chemistry, and renal or liver function. There was no effect on alcohol craving, but kudzu extract significantly reduced the number of drinks consumed each week by 34–57 %, reduced the number of heavy drinking days, and significantly increased the percent of days abstinent and the number of consecutive days of abstinence.

Conclusions

A standardized formulation of kudzu extract produced minimal side effects, was well-tolerated, and resulted in a modest reduction in alcohol consumption in young nontreatment-seeking heavy drinkers. Additional studies using treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent persons will be necessary to determine the usefulness of this herbal preparation in reducing alcohol use in other populations.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grant R01-AA10536 (SEL) from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, grant K05-DA00343 (SEL) from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and grant P01-AT002038 (DYWL) from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The authors thank Carol Buchanan, Ronna Shostak, and Barbara Beake for the administrative support during the conduct of this study.

Conflicts of interest

Based on data presented in this study, Drs. Lukas and Lee applied for, and were granted, a patent for kudzu extract to treat alcohol abuse and dependence. McLean Hospital has licensed the production of kudzu extract (NPI-031) to Natural Pharmacia International (NPI), Inc. and they are marketing it as Alkontrol-Herbal®. Dr. Lee has a financial interest in NPI, Inc. All other authors declare that they have no actual or potential conflict of interest that could inappropriately influence, or be perceived to influence, this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioral Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory/MIC, Mail Stop 319 McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA

    Scott E. Lukas, David Penetar, Thomas Geaghan, Melissa Maywalt, Michael Tracy, John Rodolico & Christopher Palmer

  2. Bio-Organic and Natural Products Laboratory, McLean Hospital, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA

    Zhongze Ma & David Y.-W. Lee

  3. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Scott E. Lukas, David Penetar, John Rodolico, Christopher Palmer, Zhongze Ma & David Y.-W. Lee

  4. Statistical and Data Analysis Center, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Zhaohui Su

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  1. Scott E. Lukas
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  2. David Penetar
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  3. Zhaohui Su
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  9. Zhongze Ma
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Correspondence to Scott E. Lukas.

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Lukas, S.E., Penetar, D., Su, Z. et al. A standardized kudzu extract (NPI-031) reduces alcohol consumption in nontreatment-seeking male heavy drinkers. Psychopharmacology 226, 65–73 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-012-2884-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-012-2884-9

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