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From The December 2001 Issue of Nutrition Science News
Kava Quells Anxiety
Anthony Almada
Researchers have extensively tested extracts of the Fijian ritual plant kava (Piper methysticum) to determine its effects on brain chemistry and behavior. In placebo-controlled, double-blind studies, scientists have described kava's ability to produce antianxiety effects with only mild side effects.1 In a recent German study, scientists gave 40 participants 50-300 mg/day of a proprietary kava extract (standardized to 70 percent kavalactones; Laitan
® in Europe). Subjects took incremental doses, starting with 50 mg on day one, increasing to 300 mg by day seven. Kava effectively controlled anxiety without adverse side effects, both during and after benzodiazepine drug therapy was discontinued.2
Scientists also have explored kava's ability to reduce postmenopausal anxiety.3 Forty women received either estrogen (estradiol) or combination estrogen and pro-gestin hormone therapy with or without 55 mg/day kavain (one of the kavalactones) from kava extract for six months. Those taking kava (with either hormone mix) for three and six months showed significantly reduced anxiety compared with women taking hormones alone. Because kava can potentially damage the liver,4,5 it should be used under the supervision of a health care professional.
Anthony Almada is a nutritional and exercise biochemist and has collaborated on more than 50 university-based clinical trials. He is the co-founder of EAS and founder and chief scientific officer of IMAGINutrition, based in Laguna Niguel, Calif.
References
1. Pittler MH, Ernst E. Efficacy of kava extract for treating anxiety: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2000;20:84-9.
2. Malsch U, Kieser M. Efficacy of kava-kava in the treatment of non-psychotic anxiety, following pretreatment with benzodiazepine. Psychopharmacology 2001 Jul 20; online.
3. DeLeo V, et al. Evaluation of combining kava extract with hormone replacement therapy in the treatment of postmenopausal anxiety. Maturitas 2001;39:185-8.
4. Escher MJ, et al. Hepatitis associated with kava, an herbal remedy for anxiety. Brit Med J 2001;322 (7279):139.
5. Russman S, et al. Kava hepatotoxicity. Ann Intern Med 2001;135:68-9.
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