Can Physical Exercise Cure Alcoholism?

Physical activity has shown benefits for both physical and mental health in individuals with alcohol use problems. A study points to an increase in substances associated with pleasure and well-being, reducing the harmful effects of alcohol use.

A recent study, published in the scientific journal PLoS ONE, sought to compile the results of highly reliable clinical research that involved physical exercise interventions for patients with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The authors aimed to provide stronger evidence on ways to treat alcohol dependence and the physical and mental health of this patient group.

The survey included only randomized clinical trials with patients diagnosed with AUD or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with symptoms of AUD. To be included in the survey, studies needed to compare "experimental groups" that underwent exercise interventions, with variations in type, intensity, and duration, against "control groups" that did not perform exercises.

The outcomes analyzed in the studies included the number of daily and weekly alcohol doses, questionnaires for alcohol consumption identification, aerobic capacity (VO2max), resting heart rate, symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, with interventions varying between aerobic exercises, resistance training, yoga, and combinations of these approaches, lasting from 3 to 24 weeks.

The survey obtained interesting results, with evidence highlighting that physical exercise had positive effects on daily alcohol consumption, with a significant reduction in the number of daily doses, but no impact on weekly consumption. There was also a significant reduction in the scores of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), indicating an improvement in alcohol use patterns.

Regarding physical and psychological effects, exercise increased VO2max and improved resting heart rate, as well as significantly reducing anxiety, depression, and stress levels. The subgroup analysis indicated that mixed exercises and an intervention duration of up to 12 weeks were effective in reducing anxiety.

Despite the interesting and promising results, one limitation identified was the assessment of risk of bias, as this raised concerns in 53% of the studies, particularly regarding the lack of blinding in the interventions, meaning participants and researchers knew which group they were in, which may have influenced the results.

References:

Li J, Zhou Z, Gao G, Zang L (2024) Effectiveness of exercise intervention in improving physical and mental status of patients with alcohol use disorders: A systematic review and metaanalysis. PLoS ONE 19(10): e0311166. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311166