Can probiotics help avoid hangovers? Scientists say it's not that simple

An article about the results of a small study has been published on the MedicalXpress website.

The story of blogger Eric Burke shows that it's not that simple. He has a passion for tasting bourbon, but has always been prone to severe hangovers. Deciding to test out a new product, he took a probiotic drink, then drank a cocktail, ate dinner and added a couple more servings of bourbon. The morning after, he says, he felt unexpectedly invigorated.

The next night, however, after drinking a little more - a beer at dinner and four glasses of bourbon - Eric got out of bed with the usual headache and weakness. His conclusion? Probably no miracle probiotic will save you if you drink too much.

What is a hangover
Essentially, it's a collection of symptoms - headache, nausea, fatigue - caused by inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. One of the "culprits" is thought to be acetaldehyde: a substance that occurs during the breakdown of ethanol. Acetaldehyde is toxic, irritates the stomach, and can cause sweating and other unpleasant effects.

The idea behind probiotics
Some companies introduce bacteria into their product that are supposed to break down acetaldehyde back in the gut. It is believed that if acetaldehyde levels are reduced, hangover symptoms will also be less. However, most ethanol is not processed in the intestines, but in the liver, and only a small part of it ends up where probiotics live. In addition, there are already many bacteria in our GI tract that are involved in breaking down toxins.

The evidence is scant
From the perspective of the Food and Drug Administration, probiotic drinks,are not drugs, but dietary supplements. No serious independent clinical trials confirming real efficacy against hangovers have been published yet. Scientists emphasise that the main way to avoid feeling unwell is not to abuse alcohol.

Conclusions of experts
According to pharmacology professor Joris C. Verster and clinical professor Daryl Davies, the most reliable solution is to drink alcohol in moderation. If you are constantly suffering from hangovers, then you should reconsider how much you drink. After all, hangovers are the body's signal that the doses of alcohol are too high.

Thus, no one forbids taking probiotics for the sake of a "miraculous cure" from hangovers, but you should not expect a guaranteed result. The best cure for a heavy morning is still to know the measure the night before.