Tier 2 — strong

The use of N-acetylcysteine in the prevention of hangover: a randomized trial

Veronica Coppersmith, Sarah Hudgins, Jill Stoltzfus, Holly Stankewicz
Sci Rep 2021 11:13397

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 34183702
PubMed Central
PMC8238992
DOI
10.1038/s41598-021-92676-0
Funding
Funded in part by a research scholarship from St. Luke's University Health Network Women's Auxiliary Group.
Competing interests
The corresponding author disclosed consulting for Galephar Pharmaceuticals that began years after the study and manuscript were completed; the other authors reported no conflicts of interest.

Study snapshot

DesignRandomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study
ModelHuman
Sample49 volunteers
InterventionNAC 600-1,800 mg versus placebo around controlled beer intoxication
DurationTwo study encounters with next-morning assessment
EndpointsHangover Symptom Scale; Individual hangover symptoms

What the study showed, in plain terms

2021 evidence record examining NAC in alcohol hangover.

Key findings

NAC did not significantly improve total hangover scores or the general distribution of specific symptoms; exploratory sex-specific signals were reported.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Small crossover study; exploratory subgroup findings should not override the negative overall result.

Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

Last verified

Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology