Red Ginseng Shown to Reduce Blood Alcohol Levels, Ease Hangover Symptoms

Red ginseng, known for fatigue recovery and immune system support, has been found effective in relieving hangover symptoms. Clinical trial results show that consuming a red ginseng compound lowers blood alcohol levels and alleviates hangover symptoms.

KGC Korea Ginseng Corp. announced on the 26th that its R&D division, Professor Lee Bu-yong's team from the Department of Food Science and Biotechnology at CHA University, and Professor Joo Jong-cheon's team from Wonkwang University Jeonju Korean Medicine Hospital jointly conducted the research. The findings were recently published in the Journal of Ginseng Research (IF: 5.6).

The research team confirmed that the group consuming the red ginseng compound showed decreased blood alcohol and acetaldehyde levels compared to the placebo group, with safe alleviation of major hangover symptoms.

The study was conducted using a randomized, double-blind, crossover design involving 80 adults aged 20 to 40 who regularly experienced hangovers after drinking. Blood tests were performed at regular intervals after alcohol consumption to measure changes in blood alcohol and acetaldehyde levels, along with questionnaire assessments to evaluate hangover severity (AHS, AHSS).

Researchers divided participants into a red ginseng compound group (40 people) and a placebo group (40 people). Each group received a standard meal and consumed either the red ginseng compound or placebo one hour and 45 minutes later. Thirty minutes after consumption, participants drank a fixed amount of alcohol. Blood alcohol and acetaldehyde levels were measured at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 15-hour intervals, with hangover symptom questionnaires administered at 1, 4, 6, and 15-hour intervals.

Results showed that drinking after consuming the red ginseng compound reduced metabolic burden during the recovery phase, with significant effects on accelerating early alcohol elimination and suppressing acetaldehyde throughout the period. In the red ginseng compound group, blood alcohol levels began decreasing 15 minutes after alcohol consumption, reaching 19% lower than the placebo group after 15 hours. Blood acetaldehyde suppression also began 30 minutes after alcohol consumption, with levels 52% lower than the placebo group after 15 hours.

Hangover-related symptoms measured at 6 and 15 hours after alcohol consumption were also effectively alleviated. Total scores for major symptoms including discomfort, thirst, fatigue, dizziness, gastrointestinal distress, and concentration difficulties were significantly reduced in the consumption group compared to the placebo group. Notably, at the 6-hour mark, the group maintained markedly improved conditions compared to the placebo group.

Hong Soon-ki, Head of R&D at KGC Korea Ginseng Corp., said, "This study complied with guidelines from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and scientifically confirmed that consuming the red ginseng compound safely and effectively alleviates representative hangover symptoms."