Hydrogen Therapy Reduces Hangover Symptoms and Blood Alcohol Levels
- Authors
- Xiang Lv, Yuanfeng Lu, Guoyong Ding, Xiao Li, Xinxin Xu, Aihua Zhang, Guohua Song
- Journal
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Year
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.1093/ajcn/nqac261
- Study Type
- Human
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Alcohol Hangover
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
Inhaling hydrogen gas and drinking hydrogen-infused water can reduce both the level of alcohol in the breath and the severity of hangover symptoms after drinking.
Key Finding
Hydrogen inhalation and consumption reduced breath alcohol concentration and decreased hangover symptom severity by about 11 percentage points compared to placebo, while also improving cognitive test scores.
Summary
This small study tested whether hydrogen gas and hydrogen-infused water could reduce hangover symptoms in 20 healthy adults. Participants either received hydrogen or a placebo, then drank alcohol. The hydrogen group showed lower breath alcohol levels, reported fewer hangover symptoms, and performed better on attention and thinking tests compared to the placebo group.
Practical Takeaway
This early-stage study suggests hydrogen may help reduce hangover symptoms, but it involved only 20 people and was very short-term. Much larger and longer studies would be needed to confirm whether hydrogen water or inhalation could be a practical hangover remedy for everyday use.
Abstract
Background: Alcohol-induced hangover represents a significant, yet understudied, global hazard and a large socio-economic burden. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hydrogen (H2) on relieving drinking and hangover symptoms in 20 healthy volunteers. Methods: In this pilot, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, matched, crossover interventional trial, participants were matched into pairs and randomly assigned. Study group 1 inhaled placebo air for 1 hr, followed by drinking 100 ml of liquor (40% alcohol) within 10 min, and then pure water. Study group 2 inhaled a mixture of H2 and O2 gas for 1 hr, followed by drinking 100 ml of liquor within 10 min, and then H2 dissolved in water. On a second intervention day (crossover) ≥1 wk later, study-group subjects were switched to the opposite order. Breath alcohol concentration (BrAC), hangover severity, and cognitive scores were measured. Results: The BrACs within the H2 group were significantly lower than those within the placebo group after 30 min, 60 min, and 90 min (P < 0.05). The H2 group reported having fewer hangover symptoms compared with the placebo group (Placebo: 77% of symptoms absent, 19.7% of mild symptoms, 2.7% of moderate symptoms, 0.7% of severe symptoms; H2: 88.6% of symptoms absent, 10% of mild symptoms, 1.3% of moderate symptoms, 0% of severe symptoms; P < 0.001). H2 treatment improved cognitive testing scores (P < 0.05), including attention and executive functions. Furthermore, consumption of H2 was negatively (β = -13.016; 95% CI: -17.726, -8.305; P < 0.001) and female sex was positively (β = 22.611; 95% CI: 16.226, 28.997; P < 0.001) correlated with increased BrACs. Likewise, the consumption of H2 was negatively (OR: 0.035; 95% CI: 0.007, 0.168; P < 0.001) while female sex was positively (OR: 28.838; 95% CI: 5.961, 139.506; P < 0.001) correlated with the severity of hangover symptoms. Conclusions: H2 decreases BrACs and relieves the symptoms of hangovers.This trial was registered at China Clinical Trial Registry as ChiCTR2200059988. URL of registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=58359.