Efficacy of Probiotic VITA-PB2 from Fermented Foods on Alcohol Consumption and Hangover Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

TL;DR

This study shows that a probiotic from fermented foods helps reduce alcohol levels and hangover symptoms by improving ethanol metabolism and reducing oxidative stress.

Contribution

The study demonstrates the efficacy of Leuconostoc mesenteroides VITA-PB2 in mitigating alcohol-related effects through clinical trials.

Findings

VITA-PB2 reduced blood ethanol concentrations and acetaldehyde levels after alcohol consumption.

The probiotic increased ALDH activity and reduced oxidative stress markers like ROS.

Subjective hangover symptoms, such as thirst, were significantly improved with VITA-PB2.

Abstract

Background: Modulating ethanol metabolism and attenuating alcohol-induced oxidative stress are promising therapeutic strategies for reducing the severity of hangovers and alleviating their associated physiological burden. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the probiotic strain Leuconostoc mesenteroides VITA-PB2 on ethanol metabolism, oxidative stress, and hangover-related symptoms in 28 healthy adults. The participants consumed either VITA-PB2 or a placebo before standardized alcohol intake, with a 7-day washout period and subsequent crossover. Primary outcomes included blood ethanol, acetaldehyde levels, and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. Secondary outcomes measured hangover severity assessed by the Acute Hangover Scale (AHS), liver enzymes including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), oxidative stress indicators reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), and antioxidant responses measured by glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging capacity. Results: VITA-PB2 supplementation led to a sustained reduction in blood ethanol concentrations beginning at 0.5 h post-ingestion compared with the placebo group, indicating more efficient ethanol clearance. Additionally, VITA-PB2 significantly reduced acetaldehyde levels at 1 h post-ingestion (p < 0.05) and increased ALDH activity by 42.15% at 30 min (p < 0.05). It also markedly reduced ROS levels at 1 h (p < 0.05), enhanced glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity at 2 h (p < 0.01), and significantly improved the subjective hangover symptoms, particularly thirst (p < 0.05). Conclusions: No adverse effects were reported during the trial, indicating that Leuconostoc mesenteroides VITA-PB2 is a safe probiotic. These findings suggest its efficacy in mitigating alcohol-induced oxidative stress and alleviating hangover-related symptoms.

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