What Are Good Supplements for Hangovers?

There’s no such thing as a foolproof hangover preventative or hangover cure, unless you count refraining entirely from alcohol consumption.

But in addition to well-known common sense measures (like drinking water and consuming smaller amounts of alcohol, which are pretty much always a good idea), there are hangover supplements out there that may help your body cope with the effects of alcohol—potentially significantly reducing negative post-drinking feelings.

The Best Supplements for Hangovers

So: which supplements have the best evidence backing up their efficacy in supporting the body as it breaks down alcohol? Here are some of the top contenders:

Vitamins and Minerals

B Vitamins

The B vitamins are a category of water-soluble vitamins that include B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6, B7 (biotin), folic acid, and vitamin B12. 

They are involved in energy metabolism, formation of red blood cells, and neurological function, among other important bodily processes. There is also some evidence showing that they may help reduce the number of reported hangover symptoms compared to placebo. 

For instance, supplementing with pyritinol (an analog of vitamin B6) before drinking was found to reduce hangover symptoms, but this study is relatively small and outdated. Similarly, because alcohol can deplete thiamine, supplementing with vitamin B1 may help reduce this effect. This study also found that a higher intake of nicotinic acid (a form of vitamin B3) was associated with less severe hangovers.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient and antioxidant that may help to support immune function. Vitamin C supplementation has also been shown to enhance alcohol clearance and may help to protect the liver in cases of alcohol abuse by reducing oxidative stress while increasing production of glutathione, an enzyme that is required for detoxification.

Zinc

Zinc is an important nutrient that is involved in immune function as well as skin health, cell growth, nerve function, DNA synthesis, and more. Supplementing with zinc may also help support the body as it metabolizes alcohol. 

For instance, this study found that consuming higher quantities of dietary zinc is associated with less severe hangovers. The researchers behind the study believed that increased zinc intake could help make the process of alcohol metabolism (including oxidation of ethanol into acetaldehyde and of acetaldehyde into acetate) faster and more efficient.

Clove Extract, Such As Clovinol®

Derived from the clove plant (the same one that’s used for the widely beloved pumpkin spice blend!), clove extract is believed to help the body excrete alcohol more efficiently. In one study with a particularly high-quality design (it was randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled), a standardized extract of the polyphenols (plant compounds) in clove buds known as Clovinol® was found to reduce negative feelings after drinking by more than 55 percent.

Dihydromyricetin (DHM)

Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is a flavonoid (a class of plant chemicals) that can be found in a variety of plant species, many of which have been used in traditional Japanese, Chinese, and Korean medicines. DHM is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that has been found to have numerous likely health benefits, potentially including protecting against cancer, infections, diabetes, and neurological conditions. 

It may reduce post-alcohol symptoms by helping the body to metabolize alcohol more quickly. More specifically, DHM is believed to trigger the liver to produce more enzymes that break down alcohol (ADH and ALDH), make these enzymes more efficient and effective, reduce lipid accumulation in liver tissue, and lower the liver’s production of inflammatory agents called cytokines.

Milk Thistle Extract

Milk thistle has been used as a medicinal plant for thousands of years and can help to protect the liver. The active compound in milk thistle, known as silymarin, may lower the risk of developing alcoholic liver disease-related cirrhosis as well as protect against liver disorders. Siliphos® is a type of milk thistle supplement that combines silybin (a flavonoid from milk thistle) with phospholipids to increase absorption.

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is derived from the amino acid L-cysteine and is a powerful antioxidant. It supports the body’s detoxification processes, with the potential to reduce or entirely prevent damage to the liver and kidneys in cases of toxin exposure (such as acetaminophen overdose). 

When it comes to alcohol consumption in particular, supplementing with NAC may reduce negative feelings after drinking. It is believed to do so by increasing glutathione production, which allows the liver to convert acetaldehyde into a harmless substance.

Prickly Pear

Prickly pears are a species of cactus, an extract of which may help to reduce post-drinking symptoms. In one study from 2004, taking prickly pear extract before drinking halved subjects’ risk of experiencing severe hangover symptoms.

Supplements with These Ingredients To Take Before and After Drinking

Instead of waking up and wishing you hadn’t consumed one too many alcoholic beverages, give your body a fighting chance with these pre- and post-alcohol supplements from Capsulyte formulated by Dr. Dan Nguyen, MD, MBA—they contain many of the ingredients listed above:

Before You Drink: Take PREGAME

Capsulyte’s PREGAME contains a combination of four ingredients with research supporting their efficacy in helping the body manage alcohol consumption: DHM, NAC, Clovinol® (a form of clove extract), and Siliphos® (a form of milk thistle extract).

After You Drink: Take HYDRATION

Don’t forget to prioritize hydration and restoring key vitamins and minerals while recovering from a night of heavy alcohol use. HYDRATION uses the following ingredients to achieve