Everyone seeks to avoid a hangover following a night of alcohol consumption. You might have encountered advertisements on podcasts or social media for a relatively new category of products that claim to enable enjoyment of a night out without experiencing hangover symptoms the next day—provided they are ingested before or after drinking.
These products feature a variety of ingredients, which may include electrolytes, antioxidants, probiotics, specific vitamins, minerals, or other nutrients. Available as powders, capsules, or drinks, companies assert these formulations mitigate alcohol’s effects on the body.
For instance, ZBiotics’ pre-alcohol probiotic drink purports to aid the body in breaking down acetaldehyde, a byproduct of alcohol metabolism. Myrkl combines prebiotics, probiotics, and the amino acid L-cysteine, allegedly to assist the body in processing alcohol and reducing post-drinking fatigue. Capsulyte Pregame contains dihydromyricetin (DHM), a flavonoid found in various plants, along with milk thistle extract, polyphenols, and n-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a precursor to the antioxidant glutathione, which the company claims helps diminish alcohol’s effects on the body. WaterBoy’s Weekend Recovery and DripDrop’s Electrolyte Powder Packets, meanwhile, include electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, and sodium.
While numerous testimonials tout their benefits, robust scientific evidence to support these claimed advantages is scarce. Dr. Robert Swift, a professor of psychiatry, human behavior, and public health at Brown University, who conducts research on pharmacological treatments for alcohol and drug abuse, states, “The gold standard of effectiveness is the controlled, double-blind clinical trial—none of these have that standard of proof.” Swift further notes that while some products target dehydration, this doesn’t automatically confirm their effectiveness in preventing hangovers.
A small study, financed by Myrkl’s parent company DeFaire Medical AB, indicated that after 24 participants took the supplements twice daily for a week, less alcohol was absorbed into their bodies post-drinking, leading to a 70% reduction in blood alcohol levels when they consumed alcohol. However, no difference was observed in cognitive function tests between those who did or did not take the supplement before drinking, and the study did not specifically address hangover symptoms.
A 2022 review of 21 placebo-controlled randomized trials, which examined a wide array of alleged hangover-prevention ingredients, concluded that “only very low quality evidence of efficacy is available to recommend any pharmacologically active intervention for the treatment or prevention of alcohol-induced hangover.”
What triggers hangovers—and can these products truly make a difference?
Hangovers typically result from a combination of several factors. Firstly, alcohol consumption can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Dr. Michael Weaver, medical director of the Center for Neurobehavioral Research on Addiction at UTHealth Houston, explains, “Alcohol is a diuretic, so it makes you urinate more.”
Additionally, Swift notes, “alcohol is very pro-inflammatory.” This is partly because “alcohol makes the intestines leaky—bacteria in the intestines that produce inflammation can get into the bloodstream and cause inflammation” throughout the body. This inflammation contributes to symptoms such as fatigue and headaches.
Alcohol consumption can also disrupt your sleep, which can exacerbate all these symptoms. Furthermore, as the liver metabolizes alcohol, it produces acetaldehyde; at elevated levels, acetaldehyde can induce inflammation, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and other hangover symptoms, Swift explains.
Some pre-alcohol products aim to address one or more of these issues. However, Weaver observes that “most of them are fluids and electrolytes—they provide a fancier way of doing what people should be doing anyway, which is staying hydrated.”
The rationale behind incorporating probiotics in some of these products is the theoretical premise that ingesting bacteria containing enzymes that degrade acetaldehyde in the stomach might help prevent hangover symptoms. Yet, Swift points out that even if these probiotics could eliminate acetaldehyde in the stomach, “you also have it in the liver and the brain.”
Regarding other ingredients, Swift mentions that B vitamins can help individuals metabolize alcohol, enabling them to “get rid of it a little quicker.” DHM and flavones possess anti-inflammatory properties, which could potentially alleviate headaches and other inflammatory symptoms.
Nevertheless, existing research has not conclusively demonstrated that the formulations currently on the market effectively combat hangovers.
The Conclusion
While it remains uncertain whether these pre-alcohol products can genuinely prevent a hangover, concerns persist regarding their potential impact on drinking habits. Swift states, “For some people, a hangover may provide a natural biological deterrent for heavy drinking.” He adds that even if they functioned as advertised—which he doubts—“eliminating that biological check might not be good for you.”
Indeed, there is apprehension that the regular, widespread use of such products could inadvertently encourage excessive drinking: A 2023 study published in the journal *Alcohol and Alcoholism* found that young adults who utilize over-the-counter hangover remedies—encompassing a wide range of supplements—tend to exhibit more problematic drinking patterns, such as binge drinking.
Weaver advises that “the best way to avoid a hangover is not to drink alcohol.” The second-best method? “If you’re going to drink, don’t *just* drink alcohol—drink other things besides alcohol, such as water or non-sugary beverages, and alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks.”
To prevent a hangover, it’s also prudent to slow your body’s absorption of alcohol by consuming a meal or a substantial snack before drinking. In other words, Weaver reiterates the advice known long before these products emerged: “Don’t drink on an empty stomach.”