Washington, March 04: Scientists have discovered that increasing dissolved oxygen concentrations in alcohol may help reduce hangovers as well as alcohol-related side effects and accidents.
The research at the Chungnam National University, South Korea, found that dissolved oxygen concentrations in alcoholic drinks can accelerate the metabolism and elimination of alcohol.
The more the concentration of dissolved oxygen, the faster is the ethanol, or alcohol, oxidation, which reduces its influence on the person, it found.
“Ethanol is oxidized to acetaldehyde, then further oxidized to water and carbon dioxide in the body after consumption,” said Kwang-il Kwon, the lead author of the study.
Acetaldehyde is an organic chemical compound produced by oxidation of ethanol and is popularly believed to be the cause of hangovers, the ScienceDaily reported.
“Several studies have indicated that high-oxygen water can enhance the survival ability of mice, fatigue recovery, and anoxia endurance function,” said Hye Gwang Jeong, the co-author of the study.
“This study is the first to investigate the influence of dissolved oxygen concentrations on the pharmacokinetics of alcohol in healthy human subjects,” he added.
—-PTI