Could Alcohol Anticipation-Related Glucose Responses Contribute to a Physiological Drive to Consume Alcohol?

Background

Excessive alcohol drinkers have previously been observed to experience alcohol craving at the mere sight of alcohol alone. This is typically considered to be a result of maladaptive cognitive motivations. However, there may be physiological drivers affecting this craving also. Blood glucose levels have previously been found to be affected by anticipation of carbohydrate ingestion.

Objectives

Therefore, this paper explored whether blood glucose levels of excessive alcohol drinkers was affected by alcohol anticipation. Participants were led to believe they would be drinking alcohol. A blood glucose reading was taken before and after this event so that a measure of blood glucose change could be recorded.

Results

It was found that excessive alcohol drinkers demonstrated a decrease in blood glucose levels overall. These results demonstrate that alcohol anticipation in excessive drinkers is associated with a decrease in blood glucose as a result of an anticipation-related physiological response.

Conclusions

These results may imply that excessive alcohol drinkers may have a physiological drive to consume alcohol in order to replenish blood glucose, which may exacerbate feelings of alcohol craving.