The Kava Anxiety Depression Spectrum Study (KADSS): a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial using an aqueous extract of Piper methysticum
Sarris J
Published in Psychopharmacology
Methodology
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial over 3 weeks; aqueous Piper methysticum extract providing 250 mg kavalactones daily; Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory and MADRS with liver function monitoring.
Key Findings
60 adults with a month or more of elevated generalised anxiety took five aqueous kava tablets daily (250 mg kavalactones/day) or placebo in a 3-week crossover. Hamilton Anxiety Scale scores fell by 9.9 points on kava versus 0.8 on placebo in the first controlled phase, and by 10.3 versus a 3.3-point rise in the second; the pooled effect was highly significant (p < 0.0001, d = 2.24). Beck Anxiety Inventory and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale scores also fell significantly, with no serious adverse effects and no clinical hepatotoxicity.
Conclusions
The aqueous Kava preparation produced significant anxiolytic and antidepressant activity and raised no safety concerns at the dose and duration studied.
Limitations
Small crossover trial of 60 people over only 3 weeks, so nothing can be said about longer-term use or the rare liver toxicity that led to kava withdrawal in several markets; the very large effect size is unusual and needs replication.
Supplements Studied
The aqueous Kava preparation produced significant anxiolytic and antidepressant activity and raised no safety concerns at the dose and duration studied.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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