Dietary Supplements

Effects of an amino acid mixture on alcohol metabolism and alcohol-related symptoms in healthy adults.

TL;DR

AL supplementation was associated with more rapid reduction in blood alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations and lower severity of alcohol-related symptoms, particularly fatigue and cognitive difficulty, compared with placebo in healthy adults.

Key Findings

AL intake was associated with a more rapid reduction in blood alcohol concentrations compared with placebo.

  • Study design was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial
  • Blood alcohol concentrations were measured at predefined time points up to 13 hours after alcohol consumption
  • Participants consumed AL or placebo prior to alcohol consumption
  • The trial was registered retrospectively with the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS), Republic of Korea (KCT0010612)

AL intake was associated with a more rapid reduction in blood acetaldehyde concentrations compared with placebo.

  • Acetaldehyde concentrations were measured at predefined time points up to 13 hours after alcohol consumption
  • Acetaldehyde is a toxic metabolite of alcohol associated with hangover symptoms
  • The amino acid mixture AL was suggested to support hepatic metabolism following alcohol consumption

Participants who received AL reported lower severity of alcohol-related symptoms compared with placebo.

  • Alcohol-related symptoms were assessed using the Alcohol Hangover Severity Scale (AHSS)
  • Lower symptom severity was observed particularly for fatigue and cognitive difficulty
  • Symptom differences were noted at 13 hours after alcohol consumption

No clinically significant adverse effects were observed with AL supplementation.

  • Safety parameters were evaluated as part of the study protocol
  • The study involved healthy adult participants
  • AL is described as an amino acid mixture intended as a nutritional approach

The study used a crossover design in which healthy adults consumed AL or placebo prior to alcohol consumption.

  • The trial design was randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and crossover
  • Blood alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations were measured at predefined time points up to 13 hours after alcohol consumption
  • The trial was retrospectively registered on 10 June 2025 with CRIS (KCT0010612)

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Citation

Kim H, Suh H, Han K, Kim N, Jung E, Shim J. (2026). Effects of an amino acid mixture on alcohol metabolism and alcohol-related symptoms in healthy adults.. Scientific reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-35178-1