Alcohol? More Like Alco-NO! This Gel can Say Goodbye to Hangovers

Listen to this News

Highlights:

• Protein gel converts alcohol into harmless acetic acid before it enters the bloodstream
• Significantly reduces blood alcohol levels and mitigates liver damage in mice studies
• Promises a preventive measure against alcohol-related health complications

Excessive alcohol consumption poses significant health risks globally, leading to millions of deaths annually. Conventional methods to mitigate alcohols harmful effects primarily focus on symptom management rather than addressing the root cause. However, a recent breakthrough by researchers at ETH Zurich offers a promising solution. They have developed a protein-based gel capable of metabolizing alcohol in the gastrointestinal tract, potentially reducing its intoxicating and damaging effects on the body (1^✔).

Development of the Protein Gel Pack for Alcohol Metabolism

The gel, developed by researchers at ETH Zurich's Laboratory of Food & Soft Materials, is primarily composed of whey proteins, iron, and gold nanoparticles. Whey proteins undergo a process of fibrillation followed by cross-linking to form a gel matrix. Iron atoms, distributed evenly on the fibril surface, act as catalysts for alcohol metabolism. Glucose and gold nanoparticles trigger the production of hydrogen peroxide, essential for alcohol breakdown. The gel facilitates a multi-stage cascade of enzymatic reactions, ultimately converting alcohol into harmless acetic acid.

‘Did You Know?
This Protein Gel Slashes Blood Alcohol Levels by 40%. Is the Party Over for Hangovers? #gelpack #alcohol #alcoholmetabolism’

Upon oral administration, the gel traverses the gastrointestinal tract, where it interacts with ingested alcohol. Iron catalysts facilitate the conversion of alcohol into acetic acid, while gold nanoparticles induce the production of hydrogen peroxide. This orchestrated enzymatic process ensures rapid and efficient alcohol metabolism before it enters the bloodstream, thereby mitigating its intoxicating and harmful effects.

View Non AMP Site | Back to top ↑