L-Cysteine Containing Vitamin Supplement Which Prevents or Alleviates Alcohol-related Hangover Symptoms: Nausea, Headache, Stress and Anxiety.
- 2020-08-18
- Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire) 55(6)
- C J Peter Eriksson
- Markus Metsälä
- Tommi Möykkynen
- Heikki Mäkisalo
- Olli Kärkkäinen
- Maria Palmén
- Joonas E Salminen
- Jussi Kauhanen
- PubMed: 32808029
- DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agaa082
Study Design
- Type
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
- Population
- nineteen males
- Methods
- randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled. Participants swallowed placebo and L-cysteine tablets. Alcohol dose was 1.5 g/kg consumed during 3 h.
- Blinding
- Double-blind
- Duration
- not stated (single session, but no follow-up duration given)
Aims
Alcohol-related hangover symptoms: nausea, headache, stress and anxiety cause globally considerable amount of health problems and economic losses. Many of these harmful effects are produced by alcohol and its metabolite, acetaldehyde, which also is a common ingredient in alcohol beverages. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of the amino acid L-cysteine on the alcohol/acetaldehyde related aftereffects.Methods
Voluntary healthy participants were recruited through advertisements. Volunteers had to have experience of hangover and/or headache. The hangover study was randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled. Nineteen males randomly swallowed placebo and L-cysteine tablets. The alcohol dose was 1.5 g/kg, which was consumed during 3 h.Results
The primary results based on correlational analysis showed that L-cysteine prevents or alleviates hangover, nausea, headache, stress and anxiety. For hangover, nausea and headache the results were apparent with the L-cysteine dose of 1200 mg and for stress and anxiety already with the dose of 600 mg.Conclusions
L-cysteine would reduce the need of drinking the next day with no or less hangover symptoms: nausea, headache, stress and anxiety. Altogether, these effects of L-cysteine are unique and seem to have a future in preventing or alleviating these harmful symptoms as well as reducing the risk of alcohol addiction.Research Insights
L-cysteine prevents or alleviates hangover, nausea, headache, stress and anxiety. For hangover, nausea and headache the results were apparent with the L-cysteine dose of 1200 mg and for stress and anxiety already with the dose of 600 mg.
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Moderate
- Dose
- 600 mg and 1200 mg
L-cysteine prevents or alleviates hangover, nausea, headache, stress and anxiety. For hangover, nausea and headache the results were apparent with the L-cysteine dose of 1200 mg and for stress and anxiety already with the dose of 600 mg.
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Moderate
- Dose
- 600 mg and 1200 mg
L-cysteine prevents or alleviates hangover, nausea, headache, stress and anxiety. For hangover, nausea and headache the results were apparent with the L-cysteine dose of 1200 mg and for stress and anxiety already with the dose of 600 mg.
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Moderate
- Dose
- 600 mg and 1200 mg
L-cysteine prevents or alleviates hangover, nausea, headache, stress and anxiety. For hangover, nausea and headache the results were apparent with the L-cysteine dose of 1200 mg and for stress and anxiety already with the dose of 600 mg.
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Moderate
- Dose
- 600 mg and 1200 mg
L-cysteine prevents or alleviates hangover, nausea, headache, stress and anxiety. For hangover, nausea and headache the results were apparent with the L-cysteine dose of 1200 mg and for stress and anxiety already with the dose of 600 mg.
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Moderate
- Dose
- 600 mg and 1200 mg
Adverse Events Reported
The primary results based on correlational analysis showed that L-cysteine prevents or alleviates hangover, nausea, headache, stress and anxiety.
- Finding
- No significant difference
The primary results based on correlational analysis showed that L-cysteine prevents or alleviates hangover, nausea, headache, stress and anxiety.
- Finding
- No significant difference
The primary results based on correlational analysis showed that L-cysteine prevents or alleviates hangover, nausea, headache, stress and anxiety.
- Finding
- No significant difference
The primary results based on correlational analysis showed that L-cysteine prevents or alleviates hangover, nausea, headache, stress and anxiety.
- Finding
- No significant difference
The primary results based on correlational analysis showed that L-cysteine prevents or alleviates hangover, nausea, headache, stress and anxiety.
- Finding
- No significant difference