CLINICAL TRIALS-ALCOHOLISM

Vitamin B Complex

Often deficient in alcoholics due both to inadequate intake and impairment in absorption (Baines M. Detection and incidence of B and C vitamin deficiency in alcohol-related illness. Am Clin Biochem 15:307-12, 1978).

Deficiency may increase craving for alcohol

Niacin  250 mg. twice daily (1 month trial)

May be deficient.

Clinical observation:  Drug and alcohol craving was successfully treated in pts. by giving 500-1000 mg./d of time-release niacin over 3-4 weeks.  When niacin was stopped, the craving returned. (Cleary JP. Niacinimide and addictions. Letter. J Nutr Med 1:83-4,1990).

Vitamin C

May be deficient

Observational Study: Leukocyte vitamin C levels were deficient in 91% of 35 pts. with alcohol-related illnesses (Baines M.  Detection and incidence of B and C vitamin deficiency in alcohol-related illness.  Ann Clin Biochem 15:307-12,1978).

Magnesium

Experimental Double Blind Study: 49 chronic alcoholics who had been moderate to heavy drinkers for 10 years received magnesium or placebo.  After 6 wks., although alcohol consumption was similar, treated pts. had improved liver cell function, electrolyte status and muscle strength (Gullestad L, Dolva, Soylan E et al.  Oral magnesium supplementation improves liver cell function, electrolyte status and muscle strength in alcoholics. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 16(5):986-90,1992).

L-Glutamine

2 grams (1/2 tsp.) daily in divided doses.

Experimental Double-blind Cross-over Study: 7 men and 3 women with long histories of excessive drinking took 5 capsules daily in divided doses with meals of either .2 g L-glutamine or lactose placebo.  After 6 weeks on L-glutamine, 9/10 subjects as well as their friends and relatives stated that the glutamine diminished the desire to drink, decreased anxiety and improved sleep.  2 or 3 subjects continued to do well after placebo substitution, but no subjects responded to placebo unless they had first received glutamine. (Rogers LL, Pelton RB.  Glutamine in the treatment of alcoholism.  O J Stud Alchol 18(4);581-7,1957).

Kudzu (Peuraria lobata)

A perennial vine, native to eastern Asia.

Chinese herbal physicians have traditionally treated alcoholism and drunkenness with a tea made from the roots or flowers.

Components in kudzu increase the absorption of daidzin, a major isoflavanoid compound with antidipsotropic (anti-alcohol abuse) effects. (Keung WM et al. Potentiation of the bioavailability of daidzin by an extract of Radix puerariae. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 93(9):4284-8,1996).