The problem of “hangover” following high alcohol consumption is something that many people experience often and hate. This problem, which has many symptoms from headache to thirst, can turn people away from life. Although there are some effective methods, there is still no solution to quickly eliminate the hangover.
Now, a study by scientists in China has revealed that in the future, a probiotic could solve hangovers and even alcohol-related health problems. The findings were published last Tuesday in the journal Microbiology Spectrum.
Mice fed probiotics were less intoxicated and recovered
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have created a bacterium that can produce an enzyme that will help the body get rid of alcohol faster. In the experiments, the mice were fed with probiotics. As a result, the rats were less drunk and recovered faster.
Drinking alcohol, although it can lead to fun effects, can have very dangerous consequences. Our livers use enzymes called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) to protect us by breaking down alcohol, making it less toxic. Previous research has revealed that a variant of the enzyme called ADH1B is more powerful in this regard.
How was this probiotic produced, which could be very useful to people in the future?
Attempts have been made in the past to use gene therapy to produce this variant; however, it was seen that a possible result would not be possible in the near future. The new study took a different approach. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and elsewhere have created a molecular cloning version of the bacterium Lactococcus Lactis, which is commonly taken as a probiotic and is also used to create dairy products such as cheese.
The team then succeeded in producing the ADH1B enzyme with bacteria. Next, they filled a capsule that could withstand stomach acid at a dose that would be effective in mice. They then fed the mice with this probiotic.
The experiment was carried out with three groups of mice that received different amounts of alcohol. It was observed that the rats without treatment showed signs of intoxication after 20 minutes and could not stand up again when laid on their back. On the other hand, those who took the probiotic did not have a problem in this regard. What’s more, after two hours, the blood alcohol levels of the rats that took the probiotic were found to drop, while the others’ levels rose. There was even evidence that the liver was less damaged.
Scientists think the study is promising and may one day be used in humans. But the findings, as intriguing as they are, are still limited to mice. More research is needed to see if it’s applicable to humans.
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