Repeatedly, people go online in search of remedies and ‘miracle tricks’ to combat the effects that excess alcohol has left on the body. In fact, on Google there are more than 8 million results related to this topic. This poisoning, more familiarly nicknamed ” hangover “, is more serious than is believed, as it can cause diseases that put health in “check”.
The truth is that, until now, there has been no treatment that is capable of eliminating alcohol completely. However, a new study, carried out by the University of California (USA), has developed what could be the first effective antibiotic against hangovers .
Administered to mice intoxicated with alcohol, the antidote accumulates rapidly in the liver and allows a significant reduction in the concentration of alcohol levels in the blood . In addition, the properties of the pill itself provide the organ with extra protection.
According to the researchers, this treatment is capable of breaking down alcohol and preventing its poisoning. The results have been so positive that it is hoped that it may soon be used for therapeutic purposes . As director of the project for this antibiotic, the scientist Yunfeng Lu assures that “this project has serious implications, since between 8 and 10% of visits to the emergency service in the US are due to acute alcohol poisoning.”
The danger behind the “fun”
Despite the large awareness and sensitization campaigns, a large group of people is still unaware of the dangers posed by these kinds of drinks. In Spain , a country where alcohol consumption is deeply rooted in its culture, for example, death from alcohol accounts for approximately 10% of total deaths. And most of these occur between the ages of 20 and 39.
The World Health Organization warns, in one of its reports on the world situation of alcohol and health, that alcoholism is the addictive disease that is least detected and treated . In addition, the entity ensures that this trend can develop up to 200 different diseases, such as hypertension or those related to the digestive system. In fact, alcohol consumption is among the top five causes of illness, disability and death in the world.
At the moment, Lu’s team is waiting to complete new tests to ensure elimination of side effects and that these pills are completely safe. That is why, although the creation of this treatment is an important solution to save lives from intoxication and accelerate the hangover recovery process, the specialist remembers that the most important thing is not to overindulge in alcohol consumption from the beginning.
Reference: Duo Xu, Hui Han, Yuxin He, Harrison Lee, Di Wu, Fang Liu, Xiangsheng Liu, Yang Liu, Yunfeng Lu, and Cheng Ji. “A Hepatocyte ‐ Mimicking Antidote for Alcohol Intoxication” (2018) One Library. DOI: 10.1002 / adma.201707443
