Vitamins B1, B6 and B12 for hangovers: do they really help or is it a myth?

Christmas dishes and with them more cases where we could abuse alcohol. Even people who don’t normally drink can take this opportunity to have a little drink and end up with a terrible hangover the next day. For this reason, during a meal, it is very common for someone to take a box of pills out of their pocket and begin handing them out like chewing gum. This is natural, they say. They only vitamins to prevent hangover. And it’s true, that’s what it’s about (usually). Vitamin B1 and Vitamin B6 before you drink. After, vitamin B12. These don’t seem dangerous, but do they work?

The quick answer is no, although there are some nuances that may interest you. Typically these tablets contain B vitamin complexes. Most often they contain vitamin B1 and vitamin B6. They may also contain vitamin B12, but it is taken more often. after drinking alcohol. The reasons why they are taken to prevent or treat hangovers are largely based on a few urban myths and some methodologically very poor scientific studies. The overwhelming majority of evidence indicates that they are useless. But then why are they still being taken away?

Perhaps out of habit. Or maybe because now for some people social networks have more weight than science. Tik Tok video Recommendations for taking vitamins B1 and B6 to prevent a hangover are usually much more successful than a scientist advising against taking them. However, let’s look at what these studies say and the myths that have led us to believe that vitamin B in almost all its forms will save us from hangovers.

Before we begin, what causes a hangover?

A hangover is nothing more than a symptom poisoning. Alcohol itself is toxic, but some of its products are even more toxic. When we consume alcohol, our liver is responsible for breaking it down, participating in a series of chemical reactions that produce products such as alcohol. acetaldehyde. It is a highly toxic substance and is responsible for most of the unpleasant symptoms of a hangover. It affects from the liver to the brain. Fortunately, it does not stay in the body for long, but its effects may last a little longer over time.

On the other hand, since it is important to eliminate alcohol as soon as possible, the liver puts all its energy into metabolizing it, leaving other reactions such as gluconeogenesisin which glucose is synthesized. The result is a drop in blood glucose levels, which can also be very dangerous.

What does vitamin B1 have to do with all this?

Vitamin B1 helps break down sugars in food and, in turn, interferes with some of the mechanisms that They keep the nerves and heart healthy. We have already seen that a hangover affects glucose metabolism and that the brain is one of the organs affected by acetaldehyde. Therefore, it is not unusual that taking vitamin B1 may be helpful in preventing hangovers.

What about vitamin B6?

Vitamin B6 also helps maintain normal neurological function and regulate blood glucose levels. Therefore, it is not unusual that its anti-hangover benefits should be considered.

On the other hand, vitamin B12 is useless.

The main function of vitamin B12 is related to protein metabolism. In particular, it is closely linked to red blood cell synthesis and, although it also has some protective roles, it does not appear to be very helpful for hangovers.

Why are we talking about hangover supplements?

The myth about the benefits of hangover supplements is based on two reasons. On the one hand, vitamin B12, like the rest of its group of vitamins, stored in the liver. For example, vitamin B12 can be stored in large quantities so that we have supplies for a long period. However, as we age, the liver loses this ability and stores less and less of it. On the other hand, it has been observed that alcoholics store less vitamin B12 due to liver damage. This makes them think they need supplements, but in reality they do little good. extra vitamins If not, you will be able to save it.

Another reason why these vitamins are considered helpful for hangovers is that pharmacological mixture which is prescribed to people with ethyl coma contains some of them. First of all, it contains glucosesince we have already seen that a poisoned liver stops producing it. But it also usually contains vitamin B1 and vitamin B6 for all the reasons mentioned above. Vitamin B12 is sometimes included, but this is the one that has shown the least benefit in this regard.

Despite this, we are talking about people in an alcoholic coma. Patients in whom damage has already occurred to one extreme. However, if vitamins are taken before drinking alcohol, the evidence that they will actually work is very limited.

Hangover cure research

Typically, studies on the effectiveness of hangover supplements are conducted with very small numbers of participants. There are even studies involving 10 or 20 participants that are used to argue for the effectiveness of these pills.

It is logical that a study conducted with such a small number of participants cannot give convincing results. Moreover, most of the research in this regard has been carried out on laboratory animals or cell cultures. Research done on humans is very limited.

On the other hand, there are studies that show that most hangover pills contain amounts of vitamin B1 and vitamin B6 significantly higher than the recommended dose. Fortunately, B vitamins water-soluble. This means that an overdose cannot occur, since the excess It is excreted in the urine. However, there is no need for this, since with a proper diet we will have the necessary amount of vitamin B to combat the effects of acetaldehyde to some extent. If we take more, it will be eliminated and will not provide any additional benefit. This contribution may only be necessary for people in an alcoholic coma whose liver is already severely damaged.

And all this without mentioning that the only thing that taking these supplements does is make us drink more alcohol. Even if we don’t have a hangover, we will still experience the harm of alcohol. Therefore, if in these Christmas dishes If you want to prevent a hangover, it’s best not to drink. And, if you do, then do it in moderation and without tricks. They won’t do you any good, and why not say so? The only thing they will affect is your pocket.