Hangover Relief Is It an All-round Solution?

In university districts and around bars, it is common to find hangover remedies to reduce hangover symptoms the day after drinking. Hangover remedies, which can be easily purchased at supermarkets, convenience stores, and online, are recognized as a a necessity before and after drinking, but there is insufficient scientific evidence to say that hangover remedies relieve all symptoms. Nevertheless, some consumers believe in hangover remedies and drink too much.

In response, through an interview with an expert, we looked at the principle of hangover occurrence, the way hangover drugs work, and the problems of consumer perception.

Why do hangovers occur

Hangovers that appear the next day after drinking refer to symptoms of physical and mental discomfort that occur after drinking. Hangovers are not just fatigue or temporary discomfort, but are the result of complex physiological reactions occurring in the human body.

When alcohol enters the body, it is metabolized step by step from the liver. First, alcohol is decomposed into acetaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and then converted to relatively low-toxic acetic acid by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). However, acetaldehyde, which is produced in this process, is a highly toxic substance that is temporarily accumulated in the body and causes various hangover symptoms. In addition, the activity levels of these enzymes varies from person to person, so even if you drink the same amount of alcohol, the degree of hangover may vary. In 2021, Hyun Il-sik, an internal medicine specialist, explained, "Hakg News, hangover is largely influenced by acetaldehyde, which is produced during the decomposition of alcohol in the body. Even if you drink the same amount of alcohol, the degree of alcohol absorption may vary depending on the speed of drinking or the food you consume together."

Acetaldehyde causes headaches by dilating blood vessels, and stimulates the gastric mucosa, causing nausea and vomiting. Such a reaction can be understood as a process in which the body reacts to toxic substances beyond simply being sober. In particular, delayed decomposition may be accompanied by symptoms such as facial flushing or increased heart rate.

In addition, alcohol inhibits the secretion of antidiuretic hormones to promote diuretic action, and as water in the body is discharged rapidly, dehydration occurs and the electrolyte balance collapses. These changes exacerbate thirst, fatigue, dizziness, and headaches. These dehydration symptoms can become more pronounced when not drinking enough water after drinking.

In addition, alcohol also affects sleep. Immediately after drinking alcohol, it has the effect of inducing sleepiness, but in reality, it hinders the body's recovery by interfering with deep sleep. As a result, fatigue often persists because of poor sleep quality even though sufficient sleep time is secured. In addition, inflammatory reactions increase in the body after drinking, causing discomfort and lethargy in the whole body, and intensifying hangover symptoms. Jeong Ju-hwan, 24, a student at our university, complained of discomfort caused by hangover, saying, "When I drink alcohol, my face turns red quickly and the next day I have a severe headache."

In the end, hangovers are not caused by a single cause, but by a combination of various physiological factors such as accumulation of toxic substances, dehydration, poor sleep quality, and inflammatory reactions. In this respect, hangovers are not just discomfort, but can be seen as a physiological phenomenon in which the human body responds to drinking.

▲ Alcohol is broken down into highly toxic acetaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase in the body, which is then converted to acetic acid by aldehyde dehydrogenase. (Source: OSCAR)

Hangover relievers, effects and limitations

Hangover relievers that consumers seek to relieve hangovers mainly consist of ingredients that aid liver function or help metabolize alcohol. Products sold on the market include amino acids, vitamin B groups, and vegetable extracts, and some products emphasize ingredients such as oriental raisin extract and taurine, often showing fatigue relief or liver protection.

These ingredients are of some significance in that they support the liver's metabolic process or assist in energy metabolism in the body. In particular, vitamin B group supplements nutrients consumed in the alcohol metabolism process, and amino acids are factors that can help maintain liver function. Vegetable extracts are also used because they can expect the effect of assisting in antioxidant action or liver function. However, the action of these ingredients remains at the level of assisting in the detoxification process of the liver, so it does not quickly remove acetaldehyde already accumulated in the body or directly block hangover symptoms.

In addition, the effect of hangover relief may vary depending on the individual's constitution, amount of alcohol consumed, and the time of intake. This is why some people may feel that the same product works for some people, but some people may not feel much change for others. "I take hangover cure, but I don't know the effect," said Kim Seo-hyun, a student at our university (Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department, 25th grade). "I still buy it as a habit because I think it would be better than not eating it." Yoo Se-min, a student at our university (Smart Industrial Engineering Department, 25th grade), said, "If I take hangover cure, I feel relatively good the next day.”

In January last year, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety investigated 89 hangover-relieving drugs on the market and found that some products had a hangover-relieving effect. However, not all products have the same level of evidence, and some products are difficult to prove their effectiveness based solely on human clinical trial data. In addition, it is unreasonable to generalize to all hangover-relieving drugs, given that only about half of all products in circulation at the time participated in the verification process.

In the end, hangover cures can play some auxiliary role, but it is difficult to conclusively judge the effect due to differences in the level of evidence for each product and limitations in verification. In response, A, a pharmacist at Onnuri Pharmacy Nowon branch, explained, “The antiperspirant can play a role in assisting the liver's metabolic process, but it is difficult to remove toxic substances that have already accumulated in the body or to directly eliminate hangover symptoms." He added, "It is necessary to understand a specific product as an auxiliary means rather than blindly trusting it, as the ingredients and contents vary depending on the individual's constitution and alcohol consumption.“

▲ It is easy to purchase with hangover relief products displayed at convenience stores. (Source: Yonhap News)

More important than hangover cures

In order to reduce hangovers, it is more important to manage one's lifestyle before and after drinking rather than depending on hangover cure. "To relieve hangovers, it is more important to replenish the body's water supply," pharmacist A said. "Because alcohol promotes diuretic action and dehydrates, one needs to replenish moisture and electrolytes through water or ion drinks."

Meals before and after drinking also play an important role. If you drink on an empty stomach, alcohol is absorbed more quickly and hangover symptoms can worsen, so it is helpful to relieve alcohol absorption through a diet that contains sufficient carbohydrates and protein. In addition, it is necessary to allow the body enough time to recover through sufficient sleep.

After all, hangovers are not a problem that can be solved with a specific product. Basic management such as controlling the amount of alcohol consumed, rehydrating, and taking sufficient rest is the most effective countermeasure. Maintaining a healthy drinking habit can be said to be the surest way to prevent hangovers and reduce body burden.

Choi Ahyeon

<ahyeon3218@naver.com>