Using kava to help adults quit smoking by easing stress and improving sleep
Official title: The potential of kava in enabling tobacco cessation - its holistic effects in managing stress and insomnia associated with abstinence
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11283931 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether a kava supplement can help adult smokers quit by reducing withdrawal-related stress and sleep problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $505,477 |
| NIH project number | 5R33AT012328-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11283931 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who currently smoke and are interested in quitting, able to attend in-person visits at the study site, and who meet the trial's safety criteria would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People under 21, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, or those with liver disease or taking medications that interact with kava would likely be excluded and not expected to benefit from participation.
What this research studies
You would receive a standardized kava supplement or a comparison treatment and be followed over time to see if it helps with quitting smoking, sleep, and stress during withdrawal. The team will use a randomized multi-arm approach with close safety monitoring, tracking quitting rates, sleep measures, stress symptoms, and biological markers. The work builds on a small pilot where one-week kava use showed promising biological and behavioral signals. Visits would include clinical assessments, questionnaires, and lab tests to monitor effects and safety.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, kava could offer a new, well-tolerated option to reduce withdrawal stress and insomnia and improve quit rates for smokers.
How similar studies have gone: A small pilot trial showed promising biological and behavioral signals for short-term kava use, but larger randomized trials are still needed to confirm benefit and safety.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xing, Chengguo — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Xing, Chengguo
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Cognitive behavioral therapy and trazodone for insomnia phenotypes with high blood pressure
A clinical study tests how CBT-I and the sleep drug trazodone work for adults with insomnia and high blood pressure, focusing on a specific sleep duration pattern.
-
DESCANSO: A friendly CBT plan to ease depression, sleep problems, and fatigue in Latino cancer patients
A Spanish-speaking CBT program called DESCANSO is being tested to help Latino cancer patients feel less tired, sleep better, and happier.
-
Pimavanserin for Sleep Problems in Veterans with PTSD
This grant supports Dr. Melissa Jones to study a new medicine, pimavanserin, to help veterans with PTSD sleep better.
-
Improving WTC responder mental health with personalized sleep treatment for COMISA
Aimed at helping World Trade Center responders who have both insomnia and sleep apnea feel better by using a tailored combination of sleep therapies.
-
A new sleep-help approach for Veterans with PTSD
A new ACT-based insomnia treatment tailored for Veterans with PTSD aims to improve sleep and quality of life.
-
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia to Help Veterans with Psychosis
A veteran-focused CBT-I program tailored for those with psychosis aims to improve sleep and daily functioning.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.