Author(s): Athanasios Z Jamurtas, Nikos Zourbanos, Kalliopi Georgakouli, Panagiotis Georgoulias, Eirini Manthou, Ioannis G Fatouros, Marios Goudas, Yiannis Koutedakis and Yannis Theodorakis
Objective: To examine the effects of low intensity exercise on beta endorphin (β-Ε) levels and urge for alcohol in
alcoholic patients.
Methods: Nine alcoholic patients (M= 41.2 + 6.7 yrs) and 9 healthy controls (M=38.2 + 10.7 yrs) exercised for 30
minutes at a low intensity (61.1 + 4.9 % of their maximum heart rate). Blood was collected prior to and immediately
following exercise and was analyzed for a complete blood count (CBC), β-E and lactic acid. Furthermore, an alcohol
urge questionnaire was filled by the subjects prior to and immediately following exercise.
Results: Data analysis revealedthat β-E levels were significantly lower in alcoholic patients whereas exercise
resulted in significant (p< .001) increases in β-Ε (pre: 1.57 + 0.39 pmol/L, post: 4.8 + 1.6 pmol/L) only in alcoholic
patients. Lactic acid increased significantly in both groups. There was a 17% decrease in alcohol urge in alcoholic
patients without however this difference being significant. No differences in the parameters assessed through the
CBC were seen between the two groups whereas exercise resulted in significant increases in red blood cells,
hemoglobin and hematocrit in both groups.
Conclusion: These results indicate that a bout of low intensity exercise affects the endogenous opioids in
alcoholic patients.
