Alcohol Abstinence + Exercise for High Blood Pressure
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: 18 - 65
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: The University of Texas at Arlington
Must not be taking: Hormone replacement therapy
Disqualifiers: Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease, Obesity, others
No Placebo Group
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?This study has two phases:
Phase 1 is to examine blood pressure, microvascular function, and sympathetic nerve activity in mid-life adult binge drinkers vs. alcohol abstainers/moderate drinkers.
Phase 2 is to examine the effect of 8-week aerobic exercise training on blood pressure, microvascular function, and sympathetic nerve activity in mid-life adult binge drinkers
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are on hormone replacement therapy, you cannot participate in the trial.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Alcohol Abstinence + Exercise for High Blood Pressure?
Research shows that exercise can help people recovering from alcohol use disorders by reducing cravings and improving their sense of control. Additionally, a study found that a 12-week group aerobic exercise program led to fewer drinking days, suggesting that exercise can be a helpful part of alcohol treatment.
12345Is it safe for humans to combine alcohol abstinence and exercise for high blood pressure?
Research suggests that both alcohol restriction and moderate exercise are generally safe for humans. Studies have shown that reducing alcohol intake and engaging in moderate exercise can lead to improvements in physical fitness and reductions in blood pressure without significant adverse effects.
23678How does the treatment of alcohol abstinence and exercise for high blood pressure differ from other treatments?
This treatment is unique because it combines alcohol abstinence with exercise, aiming to reduce high blood pressure by addressing lifestyle factors rather than relying on medication. The approach focuses on reducing alcohol intake and increasing physical activity, which can independently and together help lower blood pressure and improve overall health.
278910Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for non-smoking men and women aged 50-64 who are postmenopausal, do not use drugs, and have varying alcohol consumption habits. It's not for those with high blood pressure, recent infections, diabetes, heart/liver/kidney disease, obesity or high cholesterol. Regular exercisers and hormone therapy users are also excluded.Inclusion Criteria
I am between 50 and 64 years old and I may or may not drink alcohol.
I have not had a menstrual period for at least one year.
Subjects who can speak and understand English
Exclusion Criteria
Blood pressure ≥160/100 mm Hg
My weight has been stable, with less than a 5% change in the past 6 months.
Regular aerobic exercise training (i.e., they engage in 30 min of structured aerobic exercise at least 3 times per week)
+6 more
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Baseline Assessment
Blood pressure, microvascular function, and sympathetic nerve activity are measured in mid-life adult binge drinkers, alcohol abstainers, and moderate drinkers
1 week
1 visit (in-person)
Intervention
8-week aerobic exercise training and alcohol abstinence intervention for binge drinkers
8 weeks
Weekly visits (in-person)
Post-intervention Assessment
Re-measurement of blood pressure, microvascular function, and sympathetic nerve activity in mid-life adult binge drinkers
1 week
1 visit (in-person)
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
4 weeks
Participant Groups
The study investigates how abstaining from alcohol and engaging in an 8-week aerobic exercise program affects blood pressure and vascular function in mid-life adults who binge drink compared to those who don't drink or drink moderately.
3Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Exercise GroupExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Binge drinkers who have been assigned to exercise group will receive baseline assessment, 8-week exercise training plus alcohol abstinence intervention, and post-intervention assessment.
Group II: Non-exercise GroupActive Control1 Intervention
Binge drinkers who have been assigned to non-exercise group will receive baseline assessment, 8-week alcohol abstinence intervention, and post-intervention assessment.
Group III: Alcohol abstainer/moderate drinker groupActive Control1 Intervention
Alcohol abstainer/moderate drinker will complete baseline assessment only and will not receive any intervention.
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, TX
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
The University of Texas at ArlingtonLead Sponsor
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)Collaborator
References
Impact of a body-mind treatment component on alcoholic inpatients. [2022]1. A group of alcoholic patients who were treated with a physical fitness program as an adjunct to the usual program showed significantly less craving for alcohol than members in the standard treatment group. 2. The group treated with physical fitness as well as therapy saw themselves as having more internal locus of control and being less controlled by powerful others. 3. Nurses are the hospital professionals most likely to be involved with important roles in exercise programs with alcoholic patients.
Aerobic exercise for alcohol recovery: rationale, program description, and preliminary findings. [2022]Alcohol use disorders are a major public health concern. Despite the demonstrated efficacy of a number of different treatments for alcohol dependence, relapse remains a major problem. Healthy lifestyle changes may contribute to long-term maintenance of recovery, and interventions targeting physical activity, in particular, may be especially valuable as an adjunct to alcohol treatment. In this article, the authors discuss the rationale and review potential mechanisms of action whereby exercise might benefit alcohol dependent patients in recovery. They then describe the development of a 12-week moderate-intensity aerobic exercise program as an adjunctive intervention for alcohol dependent patients in recovery. Preliminary data from a pilot study (N=19) are presented, and the overall significance of this research effort is discussed.
Exercise training - A beneficial intervention in the treatment of alcohol use disorders? [2022]A growing body of evidence suggests that exercise training may have multiple beneficial effects in individuals with mental health or substance use disorders. Yet, relatively little knowledge exists regarding the benefits of exercise training to augment treatment for alcohol use disorders (AUDs).
A preliminary, randomized trial of aerobic exercise for alcohol dependence. [2022]Interventions targeting physical activity may be valuable as an adjunct to alcohol treatment, but have been relatively untested. In the current study, alcohol dependent, physically sedentary patients were randomized to: a 12-week moderate-intensity, group aerobic exercise intervention (AE; n=25) or a brief advice to exercise intervention (BA-E; n=23). Results showed that individuals in AE reported significantly fewer drinking and heavy drinking days, relative to BA-E during treatment. Furthermore adherence to AE strengthened the beneficial effect of intervention on alcohol use outcomes. While high levels of moderate-intensity exercise appeared to facilitate alcohol recovery regardless of intervention arm, attending the group-based AE intervention seemed to further enhance the positive effects of exercise on alcohol use. Study findings indicate that a moderate intensity, group aerobic exercise intervention is an efficacious adjunct to alcohol treatment. Improving adherence to the intervention may enhance its beneficial effects on alcohol use.
Physical exercise in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients affects their drinking habits: A randomized controlled trial. [2019]The aim of this study is to compare the effect of exercise training on physical capacity and alcohol consumption in alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients.
Exercise as a Useful Intervention to Reduce Alcohol Consumption and Improve Physical Fitness in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [2021]Objective: This meta-analysis and systematic review examined the effects of exercise interventions on alcohol consumption and binge drinking in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Data sources: PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, SPORTDiscus, and ERIC databases. Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials published in English between 1970 and 2021. All studies compared exercise (Ex) and treatment as usual (TAU) to TAU in adults with an alcohol-related diagnosis. All forms of exercise interventions were included (e.g., aerobic exercise, yoga, resistance exercise, etc.). Data Extraction: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols standard and the Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews of Observational Studies guidelines were followed. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool as described by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews and Interventions. Results: The literature searches retrieved a combined 2527 studies, with 1,034 studies screened after removal of duplicates and 973 (94%) rejected after reviewing titles and abstracts. Full-text review was performed on 61 studies, with seven studies meeting inclusion criteria for qualitative and meta-analysis. Across seven studies (n = 492 participants), a significant effect (Z-value = -3.37; g = -0.30; 95% CI [-0.50--0.09]; p = 0.001) was found for Ex+TAU on drinking volume. There was no effect of Ex+TAU on binge drinking. The effect of Ex+TAU on physical fitness (VO2max, ml•kg-1•min-1) was significant (Z-score = 3.70; g = 0.64; 95% CI [0.19-1.08]; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Exercise interventions may decrease alcohol consumption and improve fitness and can be an effective adjunctive treatment for individuals with alcohol-related diagnoses including AUD.
The combined effects of aerobic exercise and alcohol restriction on blood pressure and serum lipids: a two-way factorial study in sedentary men. [2019]To determine whether vigorous exercise and alcohol restriction have additive and independent effects in reducing blood pressure in sedentary male alcohol drinkers. Also to assess whether 4 weeks of vigorous exercise could offset the fall in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) usually observed after alcohol restriction.
Controlled comparison of effects of exercise and alcohol on blood pressure and serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol in sedentary males. [2019]1. Seventy-two sedentary male drinkers, aged 20-45 years, and with mean blood pressure (BP) at entry of 132 +/- 1.2/73 +/- 0.9 mmHg, completed a 4 week study during which they were assigned randomly to either drink a low alcohol beer (effectively reducing their weekly alcohol intake from 481 +/- 47 mL to 52 +/- 5 mL) or to continue their normal drinking habits. 2. Within these two groups subjects were further assigned to either a moderate exercise programme of three 30 min sessions per week of stationary cycling at 60-70% maximum workload or to a control light exercise programme where they pedalled against zero or minimal resistance. 3. Both alcohol restriction and moderate exercise were associated with mean falls in bodyweight of 0.5 kg. After adjustment for bodyweight a significant main effect of alcohol restriction on systolic BP (-4.1 +/- 1.7 mmHg, P less than 0.05) and diastolic BP (-1.6 +/- 0.8 mmHg, P = 0.05) was demonstrated. There was no significant main effect of moderate exercise on systolic or diastolic blood pressure despite a significant improvement in physical fitness (maximal oxygen uptake increasing from 33.2 +/- 0.8 mL/kg per min to 35.5 +/- 0.1 mL/kg per min). 4. Significant falls in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and triglyceride levels seen with alcohol restriction were unaffected by the increase in fitness, the magnitude of the fall being similar in both the moderate and light exercise groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Exercise tolerance and alcohol intake. Blood pressure relation. [2019]The relations of systolic and diastolic blood pressures to alcohol intake and exercise tolerance levels in 15,612 men and 3,855 women were investigated. Alcohol intake was assessed by questionnaire and stratified into seven levels for men and six for women according to the ounces of ethanol consumed per week. Exercise tolerance was determined by maximal treadmill exercise testing and was categorized into six age-specific by sex-specific levels. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly related to both alcohol intake and exercise tolerance levels in both men and women. These relations, which were positive for alcohol and negative for exercise tolerance, remained after covariance adjustment for age, body mass index, and cigarette smoking. Alcohol intake was not significantly correlated with exercise tolerance. The relation of blood pressure to alcohol was not linear because the blood pressure of moderate consumers of alcohol tended to be slightly lower than that of nondrinkers. Higher blood pressure was found only in drinkers whose ethanol intake exceeded 9.5 ounces (approximately 285 ml or 19 drinks) per week. However, heavy drinkers in high exercise tolerance categories had no higher blood pressure than nondrinkers in low exercise tolerance groups. Exercise tolerance or physiological fitness appears to be important in quantifying the relation between alcohol intake and blood pressure and should be considered in describing this relation.
Abstinence from alcohol consumption and exercise capacity: A pre and post intervention cohort study. [2021]The benefits or harm associated with moderate levels of alcohol consumption on cardiorespiratory fitness are unclear. We hypothesised that in moderate drinkers, four weeks of abstinence could improve cardiorespiratory fitness. This was a single centre, prospective, pre and post intervention, experimental cohort study. Participants were recruited from healthy volunteers among hospital staff, who were non-smokers, over 25 years of age and regularly consumed ≥3 units of alcohol a day, ≥4 times a week for > 1 month. Cardiopulmonary exercise test was used to provide objective, quantifiable and reproducible data. In all, 30 participated, and data were analysed for 22 participants. Mean (SD) peak oxygen consumption and oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold were similar before and after alcohol abstinence: 37.55 (10.89) and 39.66 (11.48) (P = 0.21) and 18.52 (5.43) and 16.82 (5.19) ml/kg/min (P = 0.1), respectively. It is concluded that this preliminary study did not establish a correlation between four weeks alcohol abstinence and cardiopulmonary fitness as measured by cardiopulmonary exercise test, among healthy volunteers self-reporting moderate alcohol consumption.