Kudzu
Kudzu is traditionally used for alcohol-related and metabolic outcomes. Clinical evidence is mixed and limited.
Overview
What is kudzu?
Kudzu is a vine. Its roots, flowers and leaves are used to make medicine to reduce alcohol dependence.
Dosage
A single study used 100mg isoflavone equivalents from Kudzu root.
Effect graph
Effect heatmap
SupplementDEX Database
8 conditions for , and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
Database Snapshot
Most kudzu research is concentrated in a handful of conditions.
- Postmenopause accounts for 6 of 20 studies (30%).
- Menopause accounts for 5 of 20 studies (25%).
- Alcohol use disorder accounts for 4 of 20 studies (20%).
- Sparse coverage remains for Athletic performance, Diabetes, High blood pressure.
Safety
Oral kudzu is safe and well tolerated when used at appropriate doses.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
Sources19 references
SupplementDEX uses only high-quality sources to determine supplement effectiveness.
SupplementDEX Database · Alcohol use disorder
4 references1.SupplementDEX Database: Alcohol use disorder — A single dose of kudzu extract reduces alcohol consumption in a binge drinking paradigm2015
In binge-drinking adults, kudzu extract reduced the number of beers consumed and slowed drinking pace in a single-dose laboratory session versus placebo.
2.SupplementDEX Database: Alcohol use disorder — A standardized kudzu extract (NPI-031) reduces alcohol consumption in nontreatment-seeking male heavy drinkers2013
In non-treatment-seeking heavy drinkers, standardized kudzu extract 750 mg twice daily for 4 weeks reduced alcohol intake per week versus placebo in a naturalistic setting.
3.SupplementDEX Database: Alcohol use disorder — Kudzu root extract does not perturb the sleep/wake cycle of moderate drinkers2011
In moderate drinkers, kudzu root extract did not disrupt sleep/wake cycles versus placebo over the monitoring period in a controlled trial.
4.SupplementDEX Database: Alcohol use disorder — An extract of the Chinese herbal root kudzu reduces alcohol drinking by heavy drinkers in a naturalistic setting2005
In heavy drinkers, kudzu extract reduced alcohol consumption during a laboratory beer-drinking session versus placebo without reported side effects.
5.SupplementDEX Database: Athletic performance — Supplementation with soybean peptides, taurine, Pueraria isoflavone, and ginseng saponin complex improves endurance exercise capacity in humans2011
In exercising adults, a soybean peptide/taurine/pueraria isoflavone/ginseng capsule (STPG) for 15 days did not significantly improve exercise performance markers versus placebo.
SupplementDEX Database · Diabetes
1 reference6.SupplementDEX Database: Diabetes — [Puerarin combined with avandia for diabetic nephropathy]2012
In 180 diabetic nephropathy patients, combined puerarin plus rosiglitazone improved urinary albumin and renal function markers more than rosiglitazone alone over 12 weeks.
SupplementDEX Database · High blood pressure
1 reference7.SupplementDEX Database: High blood pressure — Effect of Pueraria tuberosa DC. (Indian Kudzu) on blood pressure, fibrinolysis and oxidative stress in patients with stage 1 hypertension2012
In 15 healthy adults, Pueraria tuberosa 3 g/day improved fibrinolysis and blood pressure parameters versus baseline over the study period.
SupplementDEX Database · Menopause
5 references8.SupplementDEX Database: Menopause — The Efficacy and Safety of Multiple Dose Regimens of Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) Root Extract on Bone and Cartilage Turnover and Menopausal Symptoms2021
In 50 postmenopausal women, multiple kudzu root extract dose regimens for 4 weeks improved menopausal symptom scores versus baseline in an open-label study.
9.SupplementDEX Database: Menopause — Comparison of Pueraria mirifica 25 and 50 mg for menopausal symptoms2011
In 26 perimenopausal women, Pueraria mirifica 25 and 50 mg/day for 6 months similarly reduced climacteric symptom scores versus baseline.
10.SupplementDEX Database: Menopause — Efficacy comparison of Pueraria mirifica (PM) against conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) with/without medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) in the treatment of climacteric symptoms in perimenopausal women: phase III study2007
In perimenopausal women, Pueraria mirifica 50 mg/day improved climacteric symptoms similarly to conjugated equine estrogen with/without medroxyprogesterone over the treatment period.
11.SupplementDEX Database: Menopause — Efficacy and safety of Pueraria mirifica (Kwao Kruea Khao) for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms in perimenopausal women: Phase II Study2004
In postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms, Pueraria mirifica 50 mg/day reduced hot flush frequency and severity versus baseline with acceptable safety.
12.SupplementDEX Database: Menopause — Comparison of Pueraria lobata with hormone replacement therapy in treating the adverse health consequences of menopause2003
In 43 postmenopausal women, Pueraria lobata 100 mg/day for 3 months improved vaginal health index and symptom scores versus baseline comparably to hormone reference approaches.
SupplementDEX Database · Migraine
1 reference13.SupplementDEX Database: Migraine — Response of migraine without aura to kudzu2019
An observational report described migraine improvement in a patient using kudzu, but controlled outcome data were not reported in the available record.
SupplementDEX Database · Obesity
1 reference14.SupplementDEX Database: Obesity — Consumption of Pueraria flower extract reduces body mass index via a decrease in the visceral fat area in obese humans2012
In adults consuming Pueraria flower extract for 12 weeks, body mass index decreased via reduced visceral fat area versus control in a randomized trial.
SupplementDEX Database · Postmenopause
5 references15.SupplementDEX Database: Postmenopause — Effects of Pueraria mirifica on vaginal artery vascularization in postmenopausal women with genitourinary syndrome of menopause2022
In postmenopausal women, 6% Pueraria mirifica vaginal gel for 12 weeks increased vaginal blood flow and improved vaginal health index versus placebo gel.
16.SupplementDEX Database: Postmenopause — Comparison of the effects of Pueraria mirifica gel and of placebo gel on the vaginal microenvironment of postmenopausal women with Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM)2020
In postmenopausal women, 5% Pueraria mirifica vaginal gel for 12 weeks improved vaginal pH, health index, and genitourinary symptoms versus placebo.
17.SupplementDEX Database: Postmenopause — Comparison of Pueraria mirifica gel and conjugated equine estrogen cream effects on vaginal health in postmenopausal women2017
In postmenopausal women, Pueraria mirifica vaginal gel for 12 weeks improved vaginal maturation and symptom scores similarly to conjugated estrogen cream.
18.SupplementDEX Database: Postmenopause — Effects and safety of Pueraria mirifica on lipid profiles and biochemical markers of bone turnover rates in healthy postmenopausal women2008
In 71 healthy postmenopausal women, Pueraria mirifica 50 mg/day for 24 weeks improved lipid profiles without adverse endometrial, breast, or liver effects versus baseline.
19.SupplementDEX Database: Postmenopause — Effect of Pueraria mirifica on vaginal health2007
In 71 postmenopausal women, Pueraria mirifica for 24 weeks improved vaginal dryness, pH, and cytology versus baseline with good tolerability.