Can Vitamin B help ease a hangover?

Pharmacist and Master Herbalist Gerald Quigley looks at the role the B-group vitamins play in helping ease a hangover.

The best hangover treatment is to avoid it in the first place.

Alcohol interferes with vitamin B1 (thiamine) absorption, and this is probably where the association comes from.

Anecdotally, a fizzy vitamin B-group supplement may help, but it’s likely just the “fizz” that provides some relief.

In nature, the B vitamins come as a “package” (hence the B-complex nature of many supplements), however it’s vitamin B1 that has been used in alcoholism.

There are also a number of products available (Hydrodol is one) that appear to help with alcohol metabolism, especially in the social drinker.

Natural options

  • Vitamin B: fresh fruits and vegetables, including avocado, boysenberries, dates, grapes, grapefruit, guava, mango, orange, pineapple, pomegranate, watermelon, asparagus, brussels sprouts, butternut squash, corn, French beans, parsnips, peas, potatoes, spirulina, and sweet potato.

Catch up on the full episode of The House of Wellness TV show to see more expert health advice from Zoe, Ed, and the team.

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