Trial reportAddiction (Abingdon, England)2026
Pioglitazone for the treatment of alcohol use disorder: A randomized controlled trial.
Trial report in Addiction (Abingdon, England), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Pioglitazone for the treatment of alcohol use disorder: A randomized controlled trial.Addiction (Abingdon, England) · 2026Trial
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
aimsCurrent medications for alcohol use disorders (AUD) are under-used and of moderate benefit; new or improved treatments are much needed. Preclinical and small clinical studies indicate that pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione agonist of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, may reduce alcohol use. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate, in a randomized trial, the effect of pioglitazone on alcohol use and craving in adults with AUD.
designA double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial.
settingEnrollment occurred in the United States at two Veterans Affairs Health Care Centers (VAHCS) from July 2019 to March 2024.
participantsOne hundred eighty-five Veteran men and women older than 18 years with at least a moderate AUD and current alcohol use. INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR: Oral pioglitazone was given at dosages of 0 (placebo) (n = 92), or 45 mg (n = 93) over 14 weeks. All participants received Brief Behavioral Compliance Enhancement Treatment at each visit. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome measure was the number of heavy drinking days during week 14 as measured by the Timeline Follow Back (TLFB). Secondary measurements included the number of standard drinks consumed per week, the rate of no heavy drinking days over the last 8 weeks of the study, alcohol craving, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Exploratory outcome included change in alcohol use based on inflammation (C-reactive protein) at baseline.
findingsThere was no difference between groups on the primary outcome (pioglitazone mean = 2.43, placebo mean = 2.01, difference = 0.43, 95% confidence interval = -0.25 to 1.10, P = 0.22). No differences were found between groups in secondary alcohol use measures or a measure of craving. Participants with elevated inflammation at baseline treated with pioglitazone had a greater decrease in heavy drinking days over time compared with placebo (z = 2.21, P = 0.03). Pioglitazone was safe and well tolerated.
conclusionsPioglitazone administered to people with alcohol use disorder at a dose of 45 mg per day appears to be safe although there is no evidence that it is efficacious in reducing alcohol use, alcohol craving or any psychiatric measures.
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