Alcohol Abstinence + Exercise for High Blood Pressure

Overseen By Chueh-Lung Hwang, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The University of Texas at Arlington

Must not be taking: Hormone replacement therapy

Disqualifiers: Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease, Obesity, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

55 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to study how alcohol consumption and exercise affect high blood pressure and related health issues. In Phase 1, researchers will compare blood pressure and other health factors among binge drinkers, moderate drinkers, and non-drinkers. In Phase 2, binge drinkers will either join an 8-week exercise program (Exercise Training) or abstain from alcohol (Alcohol Abstinence Intervention) to assess the impact on their health. This trial may suit individuals aged 50-64 who binge drink but do not have diabetes, heart disease, or other specific health conditions. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding lifestyle impacts on health.

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.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that exercise and avoiding alcohol can safely manage high blood pressure. Studies indicate that exercise is generally safe, with a low risk of complications. It often improves heart health and helps control blood pressure.

Similarly, research on quitting alcohol suggests that reducing or stopping alcohol can lower blood pressure, especially for heavy or frequent drinkers. Cutting down on alcohol poses no major safety concerns, making it a safe choice for improving blood pressure.

Both approaches have a strong safety record, allowing participants to feel confident about their safety when considering joining this trial. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores a lifestyle-based approach to managing high blood pressure, focusing on alcohol abstinence and exercise training. Unlike standard treatments that rely on medications like ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers, this trial aims to understand the impact of behavioral changes. The exercise group combines physical activity with alcohol abstinence, potentially offering a dual benefit of lowering blood pressure and improving overall cardiovascular health. This approach could provide a natural, side-effect-free alternative or complement to traditional medication-based treatments.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for high blood pressure?

This trial will compare the effects of exercise and alcohol abstinence on high blood pressure. Research has shown that exercise can significantly lower blood pressure. Regular physical activity leads to lasting reductions in blood pressure, known as the exercise training response. Studies have found that both dynamic and static exercises can effectively reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Participants in the exercise group will undergo an 8-week exercise training combined with alcohol abstinence. Meanwhile, reducing or avoiding alcohol can also lower blood pressure. Research indicates that even light-to-moderate drinking can raise blood pressure, so stopping or reducing alcohol intake may lead to meaningful reductions. Participants in the non-exercise group will follow an 8-week alcohol abstinence program. Both exercise and avoiding alcohol are supported by strong evidence as effective ways to manage high blood pressure. ^{2 4 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Chueh-Lung Hwang, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Texas at Arlington

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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

Regular aerobic exercise training (i.e., they engage in 30 min of structured aerobic exercise at least 3 times per week)

My weight has been stable, with less than a 5% change in the past 6 months.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Alcohol Abstinence Intervention
• Exercise Training

Trial Overview 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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Exercise Group Experimental Treatment 2 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 Group Active Control 1 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 group Active Control 1 Intervention

Alcohol abstainer/moderate drinker will complete baseline assessment only and will not receive any intervention.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Texas at Arlington

Lead Sponsor

Trials

48

Recruited

7,300+

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Collaborator

Trials

865

Recruited

1,091,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A study involving 30 healthy volunteers who regularly consumed alcohol found that four weeks of abstinence did not significantly improve cardiorespiratory fitness, as measured by peak oxygen consumption and oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold.

The results suggest that moderate alcohol consumption may not negatively impact cardiorespiratory fitness, as no measurable benefits were observed from short-term abstinence in this group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Abstinence from alcohol consumption and exercise capacity: A pre and post intervention cohort study. Raj, AS., Cobain, C., Abbott, TE., et al.[2021]

A 12-week group aerobic exercise program significantly reduced drinking and heavy drinking days in alcohol-dependent patients compared to a brief advice to exercise intervention, indicating its efficacy as an adjunct treatment.

Higher adherence to the aerobic exercise program further improved alcohol use outcomes, suggesting that consistent participation in physical activity can enhance recovery from alcohol dependence.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A preliminary, randomized trial of aerobic exercise for alcohol dependence. Brown, RA., Abrantes, AM., Minami, H., et al.[2022]

Alcohol restriction significantly reduces blood pressure in sedentary male drinkers, as shown in a study of 75 participants, with a notable 85% reduction in alcohol consumption in the low-alcohol group.

Vigorous exercise improved fitness levels but did not further lower blood pressure or counteract the decrease in HDL-cholesterol levels caused by alcohol restriction, indicating that alcohol reduction is more effective for blood pressure management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The combined effects of aerobic exercise and alcohol restriction on blood pressure and serum lipids: a two-way factorial study in sedentary men. Cox, KL., Puddey, IB., Morton, AR., et al.[2019]

In a study of 19,467 participants, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were positively related to alcohol intake and negatively related to exercise tolerance, indicating that higher alcohol consumption is associated with higher blood pressure, while better exercise tolerance is linked to lower blood pressure.

Moderate alcohol consumption (up to 9.5 ounces per week) was associated with slightly lower blood pressure compared to non-drinkers, but heavy drinkers (over 19 drinks per week) only showed increased blood pressure if they had low exercise tolerance, suggesting that physical fitness plays a crucial role in the relationship between alcohol intake and blood pressure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise tolerance and alcohol intake. Blood pressure relation. Hartung, GH., Kohl, HW., Blair, SN., et al.[2019]

Exercise interventions combined with standard treatment significantly reduced overall alcohol consumption in individuals with alcohol use disorder, as shown in a meta-analysis of seven studies involving 492 participants.

While exercise improved physical fitness levels significantly, it did not have a notable effect on binge drinking behaviors, suggesting that exercise may be more effective for reducing overall drinking volume rather than binge episodes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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. Lardier, DT., Coakley, KE., Holladay, KR., et al.[2021]

In a study of 105 patients with alcohol use disorder, both exercise training groups (running and brisk walking) showed a significant reduction in alcohol consumption, decreasing from an average of 219 to 41 units per 30 days.

While individual training improved physical capacity (VO2max) by 5.7%, there was no significant difference in drinking outcomes between the exercise groups and the control group, suggesting that while exercise may help reduce alcohol intake, it does not provide additional benefits over standard treatment alone.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical exercise in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients affects their drinking habits: A randomized controlled trial. Jensen, K., Nielsen, C., Ekstrøm, CT., et al.[2019]

In a study of 72 sedentary male drinkers over 4 weeks, reducing alcohol intake significantly lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, with reductions of -4.1 mmHg and -1.6 mmHg respectively, indicating the efficacy of alcohol restriction on cardiovascular health.

Moderate exercise improved physical fitness but did not significantly affect blood pressure, suggesting that while exercise is beneficial for fitness, alcohol reduction may have a more direct impact on lowering blood pressure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Controlled comparison of effects of exercise and alcohol on blood pressure and serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol in sedentary males. Cox, KL., Puddey, IB., Morton, AR., et al.[2019]

Exercise may play a crucial role in supporting recovery from alcohol use disorders, potentially helping to reduce relapse rates by promoting healthy lifestyle changes.

A 12-week moderate-intensity aerobic exercise program was developed as an adjunctive treatment for alcohol-dependent patients, with preliminary data from a pilot study of 19 participants suggesting positive outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aerobic exercise for alcohol recovery: rationale, program description, and preliminary findings. Brown, RA., Abrantes, AM., Read, JP., et al.[2022]

Exercise training may significantly benefit individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) by positively impacting mental health factors such as stress, anxiety, impulsivity, and depression.

The review highlights that exercise may enhance social interactions and boost self-efficacy, which can help reduce excessive alcohol consumption, suggesting a multifaceted approach to treating AUDs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise training - A beneficial intervention in the treatment of alcohol use disorders? Stoutenberg, M., Rethorst, CD., Lawson, O., et al.[2022]

Alcoholic patients who participated in a physical fitness program alongside standard treatment experienced significantly reduced cravings for alcohol compared to those receiving only standard treatment.

The fitness program also helped patients develop a greater sense of internal control, making them feel less influenced by external factors, which can be crucial for recovery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of a body-mind treatment component on alcoholic inpatients. Ermalinski, R., Hanson, PG., Lubin, B., et al.[2022]

Citations

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The effect of a reduction in alcohol consumption on blood ... National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Introduction. Hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure > ...

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Blood Pressure After Changes in Light-to-Moderate ... In this study, the authors sought to evaluate the associations between alcohol cessation/initiation and subsequent BP changes, focusing on sex- ...

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Abstinence or limiting alcohol intake may lead to clinically ... Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption is associated with increases in blood pressure (BP) and stopping drinking – even drinking less – may ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109725077812

Blood Pressure After Changes in Light-to-Moderate ... In this study, the authors sought to evaluate the associations between alcohol cessation/initiation and subsequent BP changes, focusing on sex- ...

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Blood Pressure Reduction During Treatment for Alcohol ... Heavy drinking is associated with hypertension. This study evaluated blood pressure changes occurring during treatment for alcohol dependence.

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Alcohol Intake and Arterial Hypertension - PubMed Central - NIH This study confirmed that hypertension is rapidly reversible in most heavy alcohol consumers, after alcohol withdrawal, and suggested, once ...

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Alcohol Use and Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific ... The available evidence suggests no risk to possible risk reduction when alcohol is consumed in low amounts (such as no more than 1 to 2 drinks a day)