Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Dec 12;13(24):4021.
doi: 10.3390/foods13244021.

Clinical Evaluation of Hovenia dulcis Extract Combinations for Effective Hangover Relief in Humans

Ki Won Lee  1 , Guangpeng Xu  2 , Dong Hyun Paik  1 , Youn Young Shim  3   4 , Martin J T Reaney  3   4 , Ilbum Park  1 , Sang-Hun Lee  1 , Jong-Yul Park  1 , Euddeum Park  1 , Sung-Bum Lee  5 , In Ah Kim  6 , Ji Youn Hong  7 , Young Jun Kim  2
Affiliations

Clinical Evaluation of Hovenia dulcis Extract Combinations for Effective Hangover Relief in Humans

Ki Won Lee et al. Foods. .

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is associated with both short- and long-term adverse effects, including hangover symptoms. The objective of this study was to examine the potential benefits of traditional beverages containing a combination of Hovenia dulcis extract (HD) with either Pueraria lobata extract (HDPB) or glutathione yeast extract (HDGB) in abbreviating alcohol intoxication and mitigating hangover symptoms. A total of 25 participants between the ages of 19 and 40 who had previously experienced a hangover were evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo (PLA)-controlled clinical trial. Results showed that lower blood alcohol concentrations in the HDPB and HDGB groups were significantly lower than in the PLA group at 0.25 and 0.5 h, suggesting that HD aids in early alcohol metabolism (0 h, p < 0.05). Analysis of the hourly Acute Hangover Scale (AHS) showed that all treatment groups had significantly reduced gastrointestinal disorder symptoms compared to the PLA group (p < 0.05). It can be confirmed that hangover symptoms can be significantly improved by consuming HD combination drinks, apart from the effect of reducing blood alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations. Therefore, it is predicted that the consumption of natural phytochemicals added to HD is safe for humans and may help accelerate recovery from hangover symptoms.

Keywords: GC-MS; Hovenia dulcis Thunb.; Pueraria lobata; acute hangover scale; alcohol; clinical trials; hangover; plant-based extract mixture.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

K.W.L., D.H.P., I.P., S.-H.L., J.-Y.P. and E.P. are employees of Kwangdong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and their role in this study reflects their role as researchers and does not represent the position of their current or former employers. M.J.T.R. is the founder of, and has an equity interest in, Prairie Tide Diversified Inc. (PTD, Saskatoon, SK, Canada). Y.Y.S. is the Korea Branch Representative for PTD in the Republic of Korea. The terms of this arrangement have been reviewed and approved by the University of Saskatchewan in accordance with their conflict of interest policy. No other authors declare any conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of human clinical trials.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flowchart showing study participant selection and assignment. Thirty eligible subjects were randomly assigned to one of the six groups, followed by a one-week washout period and subsequent crossover to the alternate group. All subjects completed the study. HDPB: HD combined with 0.1% P. lobata extract, HDGB: HD combined with 0.02% glutathione yeast extract, PLA: placebo, G#: group no.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effect of samples and PLA on (A) blood alcohol and (B) acetaldehyde concentrations after alcohol consumption. Values are presented as mean ± SD. Compared within groups; p value for RM ANOVA. * p < 0.05.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effect of samples and PLA on (A) blood alcohol and (B) acetaldehyde concentrations after alcohol consumption. Values are presented as mean ± SD. Compared within groups; p value for RM ANOVA. * p < 0.05.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Huang D.Q., Mathurin P., Cortez-Pinto H., Loomba R. Global epidemiology of alcohol-associated cirrhosis and HCC: Trends, projections and risk factors. Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2023;20:37–49. doi: 10.1038/s41575-022-00688-6. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Aslam A., Kwo P.Y. Epidemiology and disease burden of alcohol-associated liver disease. J. Clin. Exp. Hepatol. 2023;13:88–102. doi: 10.1016/j.jceh.2022.09.001. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. van Schrojenstein Lantman M., van de Loo J.A.E., Mackus M., Verster J.C. Development of a definition for the alcohol hangover: Consumer descriptions and expert consensus. Curr. Drug Abus. Rev. 2016;9:148–154. doi: 10.2174/1874473710666170216125822. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Bereda G. Mental and physical symptoms of alcohol hangover. Neurons Neurol. Disord. 2022;1:1–3. doi: 10.58489/2836-8851/004. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Lieber C.S. Relationships between nutrition, alcohol use, and liver disease. Alcohol Res. Health. 2003;27:220–231. - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources