BACKGROUND Alcohol craving, or the desire to drink alcohol, has been identified as a key experience preceding alcohol use. Alcoholics Anonymous has long claimed that individuals can allay alcohol cravings by eating sweets. Empirical tests of this strategy are limited to a few preclinical studies in rats, and there is no existing experiment testing the acute effect of eating sweets on alcohol cravings in humans. PURPOSE The current study sought to experimentally test the acute effect of eating sweets on alcohol cravings in a sample with at-risk drinking. METHODS After being exposed to an alcohol cue, individuals with at-risk drinking (N = 150) were randomly assigned to eat sweets (n = 60), eat calorie-equivalent bland food (n = 60), or watch a video (n = 30). Caloric amounts were manipulated. Individuals with at-risk drinking were then exposed to a second alcohol cue. Changes in alcohol cravings from after the first to after the second alcohol cue were measured via visual analog scale and heart rate. RESULTS There were no significant between-group differences in changes in alcohol cravings. Caloric amounts did not modify effects. CONCLUSIONS Experimental findings did not provide evidence to support the clinical lore that eating sweets can reduce alcohol cravings, albeit only acutely and for those with at-risk drinking. Other empirically supported strategies for managing alcohol cravings (e.g., pharmacotherapies, mindfulness) could instead be promoted.

中文翻译：

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在有风险的情况下，饮食中的甜食对酒精渴望的急性影响。

背景技术对酒精的渴望或对饮酒的渴望已被确定为饮酒前的主要经历。戒酒者匿名一直声称个人可以通过吃甜食来减轻对酒精的渴望。这种策略的实证测试仅限于大鼠的一些临床前研究，并且尚无现有的实验来测试吃甜食对人类嗜酒的急性影响。目的当前的研究试图通过实验来测试食用甜食对有危险饮酒的样本中酒精渴望的急性影响。方法暴露于酒精提示后，高风险饮酒（N = 150）被随机分配为吃甜食（n = 60），进食相当于卡路里的乏味食品（n = 60）或观看视频（n = 30）。控制热量。然后将有高风险饮酒的个体暴露于第二次酒精接触。通过视觉模拟量表和心率测量从第一次酒精提示到第二次酒精提示后，对酒精的渴望的变化。结果酒精渴望的变化在组间没有显着差异。热量没有改变效果。结论实验结果没有提供证据支持临床传说，即甜食可以减少酒精的渴望，尽管这只是急性的并且对于有高风险饮酒的人。取而代之的是，可以推广其他通过经验支持的管理酗酒欲望的策略（例如，药物治疗，正念）。结果酒精渴望的变化在组间没有显着差异。热量没有改变效果。结论实验结果并没有提供证据支持临床传说，即甜食可以减少酒精的渴望，尽管只是对急性和有高风险饮酒者而言。取而代之的是，可以推广其他有经验支持的管理饮酒欲望的策略（例如，药物治疗，正念）。结果酒精渴望的变化在组间没有显着差异。热量没有改变效果。结论实验结果并没有提供证据支持临床传说，即甜食可以减少酒精的渴望，尽管只是对急性和有高风险饮酒者而言。取而代之的是，可以推广其他有经验支持的管理饮酒欲望的策略（例如，药物治疗，正念）。