title: A single dose of kudzu extract reduces alcohol consumption in a binge drinking paradigm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Overconsumption of alcohol has significant negative effects on an individual's health and contributes to an enormous economic impact on society as a whole. Pharmacotherapies to curb excessive drinking are important for treating alcohol use disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty (20) men participated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, between subjects design experiment (n=10/group) that tested the effects of kudzu extract (Alkontrol-Herbal™) for its ability to alter alcohol consumption in a natural settings laboratory. A single dose of kudzu extract (2g total with an active isoflavone content of 520mg) or placebo was administered 2.5h before the onset of a 90min afternoon drinking session during which participants had the opportunity to drink up to 6 beers ad libitum; water and juice were always available as alternative beverages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the baseline session, the placebo-randomized group consumed 2.7±0.78 beers before treatment and increased consumption to 3.4±1.1 beers after treatment. The kudzu group significantly reduced consumption from 3.0±1.7 at baseline to 1.9±1.3 beers after treatment. The placebo-treated group opened 33 beers during baseline conditions and 38 following treatment whereas the kudzu-treated group opened 32 beers during baseline conditions and only 21 following treatment. Additionally, kudzu-treated participants drank slower.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first demonstration that a single dose of kudzu extract quickly reduces alcohol consumption in a binge drinking paradigm. These data add to the mounting clinical evidence that kudzu extract may be a safe and effective adjunctive pharmacotherapy for alcohol abuse and dependence.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: dpenetar@mclean.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Penetar
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA. Electronic address: Lindsay.Toto@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Lindsay H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Toto
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Bio-Organic and Natural Products Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Natural Pharmacia International, Inc, Burlington, MA 01803, USA. Electronic address: dlee@mclean.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: David Y-W
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: slukas@mclean.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Scott E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lukas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001515:Beer; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D029908:Pueraria / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007529:Isoflavones; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Alcohol; Binge drinking; Isoflavone; Kudzu; The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NTC no. 01596231)