Effects of yeast extract on ethanol and acetaldehyde pharmacokinetics and alcohol hangover symptoms in healthy individuals.

Sang Kwe Hwan® (SKH), a Korean product for hangover relief that contains yeast extract, was developed as an anti-hangover compound. However, no studies have assessed the effects of yeast mixtures on alcohol hangover. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of SKH on ethanol and acetaldehyde pharmacokinetics and alcohol hangover symptoms. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose, two-sequence, two-period, crossover study, participants received SKH or a placebo after consuming alcohol in each period. Blood ethanol and acetaldehyde pharmacokinetics and product-related complications were assessed for 15 h; in addition, hangover symptoms were evaluated using the Acute Hangover Scale (AHS) during this period. In total, 27 participants completed the study. The geometric mean ratio for the mean maximum blood concentration of ethanol and the area under the concentration-time curve from zero to the time of the last quantifiable concentration of SKH to the placebo were 1.03 and 1.00, respectively. The corresponding values for acetaldehyde were 0.82 and 0.85, respectively. AHS scores tended to be lower after SKH consumption than after placebo consumption. None of the parameters showed significant between-group differences. In conclusion, SKH reduced the blood acetaldehyde concentration after alcohol consumption. This study can provide a foundation for more definitive human trials aimed at elucidating the effects of yeast extract on alcohol hangover.