Alcohol is metabolized to acetaldehyde and acetate mainly by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Acetaldehyde accumulation is a key factor in hangover symptoms and alcohol-induced toxicity. In this study, we have investigated the effects of a Morning Care series on ethanol and acetaldehyde metabolism in male and female mice. Blood ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations, ADH and ALDH activities in the blood and liver, and hepatic gene expression were measured at multiple time points after ethanol administration. EX PREMIUM, a hangover-relief beverage developed by Dong-A Pharm, significantly reduced blood ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations and enhanced ADH and ALDH activities, accompanied by the upregulation of ADH and ALDH gene expression. These effects were consistently observed in both sexes. These results have suggested that EX PREMIUM effectively promotes alcohol metabolism, facilitates acetaldehyde clearance, and may contribute to alleviating alcohol-induced toxicity and hangover symptoms.

Hangovers, resulting from excessive alcohol intake, manifest hours after drinking, causing symptoms like thirst, headache, and fatigue. Alcohol is metabolized in the liver by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), with acetaldehyde and reactive oxygen species contributing to toxic effects. Morning Care (MC) products were evaluated in male and female mice to assess their impact on alcohol metabolism and hangover alleviation. The study revealed that pre-administration of MC products led to a significant reduction in blood ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations postalcohol ingestion. This remarkable finding suggests a potential breakthrough in hangover relief. Enhanced ADH and ALDH activities were observed in blood and liver samples, indicating improved alcohol metabolism. Interestingly, gene expression levels of ADH and ALDH in the liver did not show significant differences, suggesting that MC products likely enhance enzyme activities through post-translational modifications rather than altering gene expression. These findings underscore the potential of MC products to mitigate hangover symptoms by enhancing alcohol metabolism.