Carbohydrates Connected to Alcoholism
Researchers have found more evidence that the brain chemical serotonin is linked to alcoholism, Reuters reported.
Researchers at the Royal Ottawa Hospital in Ontario, Canada, found that alcohol increases the body’s levels of serotonin, and that some alcoholics may drink to raise serotonin. Low levels of the brain chemical also may be the reason behind why alcoholics often crave sweets, which also increase serotonin.
"Carbohydrate craving may be an important clue to developing more diversified treatments for alcohol-dependent subjects," said Dr. Mona Moorhouse, who led the research.
Researchers found that diet significantly determined which alcoholics had strong cravings for carbohydrates and which ones did not.
The study compared 21 alcoholics who abstained from drinking for two weeks and 12 non-alcoholics. Researchers measured the serotonin level of participants and analyzed questionnaires about their food and alcohol cravings, mood, depression and personality.
The study found that 10 of the alcoholic participants reported significant increases in their cravings for carbohydrates when they abstained from drinking, while 11 reported increases in cravings for foods rich in protein.
The alcoholic participants were provided with two days of a high-carbohydrate, low-protein diet and two days of a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. The non-alcoholics followed the same diet.
The group of alcoholics reported carbohydrate cravings after the high carbohydrate diet. They also experienced an increase in serotonin levels. Those not craving carbohydrates had lower serotonin levels.
Researchers concluded that the group of alcoholics that experienced carbohydrate cravings might be drinking to increase their serotonin levels. If so, they can achieve the same effect by increasing their intake of carbohydrates.
"Abnormal serotonin response to diet is specific to high carbohydrate-craving subjects," the authors pointed out. "This response may reinforce alcohol and/or food intake and perpetuate substance abuse."
The researchers further noted that, "High carbohydrate craving alcohol-dependent subjects are potentially at greater risk for relapse than low carbohydrate craving alcohol-dependent subjects."
The study is published in the May issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
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