Does stopping alcohol improve heart health in adults with high blood pressure?

Trial details

Who runs it

The University of Texas at Arlington

Trial code

NCT07783061

Record updated

6 October 2026

Original description

The purpose of this study is to learn whether avoiding alcohol can improve heart and blood vessel health in adults who regularly drink alcohol and have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart attack and stroke.Read full original descriptionShow less

Reducing Cardiovascular Risks: The Role of Alcohol Use

The purpose of this study is to learn whether avoiding alcohol can improve heart and blood vessel health in adults who regularly drink alcohol and have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart attack and stroke.

In this randomized, controlled trial, men and women aged 26 to 49 years who regularly consume alcohol and have high blood pressure will be assigned by chance to either stop drinking alcohol or continue their usual drinking habits for 8 weeks. Researchers will compare changes in blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease risk factors between the two groups.

The information gained from this study may help researchers and health care providers better understand the effects of alcohol consumption on cardiovascular health and whether alcohol abstinence can reduce heart disease risk, especially in adults with high blood pressure.

Inclusion: Men and women aged 26 to 49 years; At-risk drinkers who drink over the recommended limits, defined as those with PEth (≥20 ng/dL) or those with a U.S. Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (USAUDIT) score ≥8/7 for men/women; Elevated blood pressure or hypertension (systolic blood pressure: 120-160 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure 80-100 mmHg).

Exclusion: On more than one anti-hypertensive medication, or on other physician-prescribed medications (but not including oral contraceptives); History of CVD or cardiovascular events (e.g., stroke, myocardial infarction); The presence of myocardial ischemia or arrhythmias with abnormal ECG and blood pressure during a clinically-supervised maximal graded exercise test; Hypertension (systolic >160 mmHg and diastolic >100 mmHg); Major psychiatric disorders, including autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, major depression, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders; Alcohol use disorder, PEth ≥400 ng/mL, or USAUDIT score ≥ 25; Current or history of any tobacco use in the past 6 months (including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, hookah, Nicorette, snus and chewing tobacco); Current or history of illicit and recreational drug use (more than 3 times in the past month and more than 15 times in their lifetime); Presence of liver disease with liver enzymes > 3x the upper limits of normal; Diagnosis of chronic inflammatory disease such as, but not limited to, cancer; Diagnosis of chronic autoimmune diseases such as, but not limited to lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis; Diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, lung cancer, and cystic fibrosis; Diagnosis of neurological diseases, including seizure disorders, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and peripheral neuropathies; Diabetes type 1 \& type 2 with fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dL; Presence of renal disease with a creatinine > 1.5 mg/dL; Anemia with a hemoglobin < 8 g/dL; Body mass index <18.5 or ≥40 kg/m2; Unstable body weight (>5% change during the past 6 months); Obstructive sleep apnea; Night-shift work; Women who are pregnant (or intend to become pregnant while participating in study), breastfeeding, or postmenopausal.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07783061