What do we know about DHM and hangovers?

DHM, Blood Alcohol Levels and Intoxication.
While it is unclear whether DHM decreases blood alcohol levels, studies have concluded that DHM has a dramatic effect on reducing intoxication - which can be very relevant for one’s hangover.

Studies show contradictory results on the role of Hovenia Dulcis in lowering blood alcohol-levels in mice and humans (Kim et al., 2017). Du et al. (2010) showed that with increasing amounts of administered H. Dulcis extract, blood-alcohol levels would show a negative correlation, decreasing. In this paradigm, the extract was administered to mice by gavage for four consecutive days before alcohol was given through ig injection. In the other experiment by Kim et al. (2017) human participants were asked to consume 360 mL of Korean Soju, together with 2460 mg H. Dulcis fruit extract. One, four and twelve hours after consumption, there were no differences in blood-alcohol nor breath-alcohol concentration between treatment and placebo groups.

On the other hand, DHM has been shown to significantly curb intoxication. In one study, the equivalent of 20 beers were injected to hapless rats. Alcohol intoxication was measured through the loss of righting reflex (LORR) – essentially the ability of a rat to turn itself upright after being placed on its back. Without administration of DHM, the rats ‘sobered up’ on average in 90 minutes. However, with DHM administered parenterally, they sobered up in 5 minutes (Shen, 2012). This leads to the conclusion that, through the LORR measurement, DHM dose-dependently decreases the effects of alcohol intoxication in rats. This interesting effect leads to the next point.

Dihydromyricetin (DHM) Reduces Alcohol (EtOH) Withdrawal.
Alcohol withdrawal is often seen as an extreme, as something recovering alcoholics have to deal with. However, clearing even a small amount of alcohol from the body has a rebound effect. Alcohol acts a physiological depressant: it slows down brain function and changes the way your nerves send messages back and forth (What Causes Alcohol Withdrawal, WebMd, 2017). Having a hangover shares many of the bodily processes as seen in withdrawal as the body recovers from having consumed a large quantity of alcohol.

In addition to enhancing alcohol clearance and alcohol metabolic enzymes, DHM has a direct and complex interaction with GABA-A receptors that likely accounts for many of its anti-alcohol effects. DHM counteracts acute alcohol intoxication and helps to reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms. DHM reduces susceptibility to anxiety and seizures (Shen et al., 2012). DHM can normalize blood sugar levels, reduce liver damage, and even restrain tumor growth (Hase et al., 1997).

Dihydromyricetin Helps the Liver.
A number of studies have come to the conclusion that DHM can help protect the liver. Hase et al. (1977) performed one of the first studies here, by using an extract of H. Dulcis fruits to study the effects on ethanol (EtOH) intoxication. They mimicked alcohol toxicity by inflicting liver damage on rats, while measuring liver serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The latter two are metabolites that are often used as a measurement when assessing liver damage. AST and ALT levels in the liver rise when large quantities of alcohol are consumed. Hase et al. showed that ALT and AST levels increased when the rats were exposed to certain chemicals that cause liver damage. However, when these rats were co-fed with H. Dulcis, ALT and AST levels were significantly lower compared to the equivalent AST and ALT levels in liver-injured rats not fed with the H. Dulcis extract.

Hangover Factors Unaffected by DHM.
DHM is not a cure-all - given the complexity of a ‘hangover’, there are many factors that contribute to a ‘hangover’ to which DHM administration would not impact.

Sleep is probably the most significant one: not only lack of sleep, but also sleep displacement (going to bed at 4 AM post-party is generally not routine for the body - your circadian rhythm is thrown out of whack), and above all quality of sleep.

Glucose imbalances (low blood sugar) is another one: drinking impacts your liver’s functionality, and more specifically, its ability to release the appropriate quantities of glucose into your bloodstream. Blood sugar can both increase and decrease to a dangerous point - a moderate amount of alcohol will make your blood sugar rise, while excess consumption can bring your blood sugar very low, caused in part by an imbalance in the hormones that regulate blood sugar levels. Drinking increases insulin secretion - so the above is particularly relevant in the context of diabetes.

There are many other aspects, such as dehydration, vitamin and mineral depletion - see what aspects Survivor's formulation can help with.