Gel From Iron, Milk Protein That Helps Mice Break Down Alcohol Could Potentially Prevent Hangovers

Researchers are closer to creating a magic pill that could prevent hangovers. A new gel has been made, and it effectively helps mice break down alcohol quickly and safely.

New Gel That Could Potentially Prevent Hangovers

In a new study, researchers developed a gel from a mixture of iron atoms and the beta-lactoglobulin milk protein. According to food scientist Jiaqi Su of ETH Zurich and colleagues, this combination behaves similarly to an enzyme that changes ethanol into acetate when it comes into contact with alcohol in the digestive tract.

Acetaldehyde, a byproduct of the body's natural breakdown of alcohol, can harm the liver and induce hangovers.

According to biochemist Duo Xu, one particularly good thing about the new gel is that alcohol can be converted straight to acetate, preventing the buildup of the hazardous intermediate. It functions as if it were a hydrogel-based nano-liver.

Per Su and colleagues, if the gel proves effective in people, it may be used to prevent hangovers and possibly even the adverse effects of heavy drinking.

Excessive alcohol consumption over time can harm the heart, liver, and brain, among other important organs. According to a study conducted in 2023, approximately 5% of people worldwide suffer from liver problems caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

Su's group gave the gel to eight mice for testing and then gave the rodents alcohol after waiting 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, eight more mice were force-fed alcohol and given a saline solution, while the remaining eight animals got gel devoid of iron.

Over time, the mice fed the iron-milk gel had consistently lower blood alcohol levels than the other mice; at the end, their blood alcohol content peaked at around 200 mg/dl, compared to 350 mg/dl for the controls. Mice that had consumed the iron-milk gel woke up two hours earlier than the other mice, even though all of the mice passed asleep after being given alcohol. Furthermore, the gel shielded the mice's livers from harm.

The mice were given a sort of sobriety test by the researchers six hours following the alcohol binge. When fed milk gel or saline alone, mice did not hunt for the exit as quickly as those who had consumed the iron-milk gel in a water labyrinth. Additionally, mice that consumed the iron-milk gel performed like they had never been given alcohol.

Su and her team are trying to begin human trials for the iron-milk gel now that it has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in mice.

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What's Hangover? Is There a Cure?

A hangover refers to the aftereffects of alcohol consumption, usually experienced the following day. There are several reasons why drinking alcohol can result in a hangover, such as inflammation, dehydration, imbalances in electrolytes, and poor sleep.

The amount of alcohol and sleep a person has had before experiencing a hangover are directly related to each other. The amount of alcohol that causes a hangover cannot be predicted in advance. The correlation is contingent upon environmental and individual circumstances, such as the timing of alcoholic drinks, sleep, and hydration.

There is no absolute remedy for hangovers. However, many symptoms can be alleviated by taking simple measures like relaxing, eating fruit, and drinking water.