RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In a study published this week in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism, researchers at the University of Helsinki and the University of Eastern Finland found that the L-cysteine amino acid is able to relieve conditions associated with alcohol consumption, such as nausea, headache, stress and anxiety.
In the research, in which 19 men and a control group took a placebo, the researchers examined the effects of 1200 mg and 600 mg doses of L-cysteine.
Volunteers were asked to consume alcohol for a period of three hours and then take a placebo or a tablet of L-cysteine.
According to the study results, L-cysteine reduced or eliminated hangover symptoms. Stress and anxiety appeared to be controlled with the lower dose, while nausea and headache were apparently controlled with the 1200 mg dose.
L-cysteine is an important amino acid for the production of proteins and other metabolic functions. It was previously used to help treat arthritis and hardening of the arteries.
The study was funded by Catapult Cat Oy, which sells L-cysteine tablets.