UCSF trial suggests kudzu extract reduced heavy drinking days

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco said on Wednesday, November 4, that early clinical evidence suggests a standardized extract of kudzu, a plant used in East Asian herbal medicine, may help reduce binge drinking.

According to the university, a clinical trial involving 120 adults with alcohol use disorder found fewer days of heavy drinking among participants who received kudzu extract than among those who received a placebo. The report described the findings as preliminary and said larger studies are still needed before the supplement can be considered a confirmed treatment option.

UCSF said the work is part of a broader effort to find additional ways to help people who struggle to control their alcohol intake. Binge drinking remains a major public health concern because it is tied to accidents, injuries and chronic health problems. Researchers have been exploring natural compounds as possible support tools for patients whose drinking patterns put them at risk.

Kudzu has drawn attention in past small studies because it appeared to reduce the urge to binge drink and, in some cases, the number of drinks consumed during a heavy drinking episode. The new trial adds clinical data in a larger group of adults, using a standardized extract and a placebo comparison. That kind of design can give researchers a clearer view of whether an observed effect is tied to the supplement itself rather than to expectations or other outside factors.

Even so, the university said the evidence is not yet strong enough to settle questions about how effective kudzu is, how long any benefit may last, and which patients, if any, are most likely to respond. Researchers also said more rigorous trials are needed to better establish safety. Those questions are important because treatments for alcohol misuse usually require more than one approach and often involve counseling, medical care, behavioral support or prescription drugs.

The interest in kudzu also reflects a practical concern in addiction medicine: many people need options that are affordable and easy to access. UCSF described the plant-based extract as a possible low-cost adjunct to broader treatment efforts if future research confirms the early findings. For clinicians and public health officials, that raises the possibility of another tool aimed at reducing the harms linked to repeated heavy drinking.

The findings could also have implications beyond medicine. If larger trials confirm that a supplement can reduce binge drinking, the evidence could influence the wider debate over alcohol-related harm and prevention strategies, an issue that is closely watched across the beer, wine and spirits industries as health concerns play a larger role in consumer behavior and public policy.

UCSF said its researchers are continuing to study the efficacy and safety of kudzu as they try to determine whether it can play a meaningful role in helping people achieve healthier drinking patterns.