The gel, developed by Zurich scientists, breaks down alcohol in the gastrointestinal tract before it enters the bloodstream, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. In the future, this gel could reduce the harmful and intoxicating effects of alcohol in humans, as well as the subsequent hangover, ETHZ researcher Raphael Mezzenga explained to Keystone-ATS.
When consumed, alcohol enters the stomach and intestines, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream and then passes to the liver. This is where most of the alcohol is broken down. The liver contains enzymes that convert alcohol into various substances, including acetaldehyde and then acetic acid. Acetaldehyde is toxic and damages the liver.
“The gel converts alcohol to acetic acid without forming acetaldehyde,” Mezzenga explained. When ingested before or while drinking alcohol, it converts it before it enters the bloodstream. “But if the alcohol is already in the blood, then it is too late,” the researcher clarifies.
Scientists see different applications for the gel. “We have shown in animal studies that using our gel in combination with alcohol produces symptoms similar to those of starving mice,” Mezzenga said, adding that the gel “will have a positive effect on relieving hangover symptoms.” “.
The gel, the researchers note, should, first of all, help reduce alcohol-related mortality, because there is evidence that the technology reduces the negative effects of alcohol on organs such as the liver and intestines. In tests on mice, the animals experienced less weight loss, less liver damage, better blood counts, and less damage to the spleen and intestines. The gel is made from whey proteins, a byproduct of cheese making, which is boiled for several hours to form long, thin fibers. The researchers then added salt and water as a solvent and the fibers formed a gel, to which they then added iron, glucose and gold. All this causes a cascade of reactions that convert alcohol into acetic acid. The researchers have already applied for a patent for their gel, AFP reports.
