Reducing Cardiovascular Risks: The Role of Alcohol Use

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Alcohol Drinking
• Drinking Behavior
• At-risk Drinking
• Cardiovascular Risk Factor
• High Blood Pressure

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Alcohol Abstinence

Participants will be instructed to abstain from alcohol for 8 weeks and maintain their usual lifestyle, including diet and physical activity. One week before the intervention, participants will be provided with an Oura Ring and instructed to wear it throughout the study. Every two weeks, participants will meet virtually with the research team (approximately 45 minutes) to receive educational materials and personalized feedback based on phosphatidylethanol (PEth), sleep, and heart rate variability data to support alcohol abstinence. During these meetings, participants will also complete assessments of alcohol use, physical activity, and dietary intake. At week 4, participants will complete a dried blood spot PEth test. Participants will also receive weekly reminders by text message or email to ensure Oura Ring data are uploaded successfully.

OTHER

Control arm

Participants will be asked to maintain their usual lifestyle, including alcohol consumption, diet, and physical activity, and will not have access to their study data during the intervention. One week before the intervention, participants will be provided with an Oura Ring and instructed to wear it throughout the study. Every two weeks, participants will meet virtually with the research team (approximately 45 minutes) to complete questionnaires on alcohol use, physical activity, and diet. At week 4, participants will complete a dried blood spot phosphatidylethanol (PEth) test. Participants will also receive weekly reminders by text message or email to ensure Oura Ring data are uploaded successfully.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Texas at Arlington

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

26 Years

Max Age

49 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-10-31

Primary Completion

2031-08-31

Completion

2031-09-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations