L-cysteine and alcohol hangover symptoms in men
What it found
In a small trial in men, L-cysteine seemed to prevent or ease hangover, nausea, headache, stress and anxiety after drinking alcohol.
The authors say it could reduce the need to drink the next day.
What they found
Studies in people
Hangover and nausea
L-cysteine seemed to prevent or ease hangover and nausea. This was seen at a dose of 1200 mg.
Headache
L-cysteine seemed to prevent or ease headache. This was seen at a dose of 1200 mg.
Stress and anxiety
L-cysteine seemed to prevent or ease stress and anxiety. This was seen at a dose of 600 mg.
What the authors conclude
“L-cysteine would reduce the need of drinking the next day with no or less hangover symptoms: nausea, headache, stress and anxiety.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that L-cysteine would reduce the need of drinking the next day with no or less hangover symptoms: nausea, headache, stress and anxiety.
- They say these effects of L-cysteine are unique and seem to have a future in preventing or alleviating these harmful symptoms as well as reducing the risk of alcohol addiction.
How it was done
Hangover symptoms like nausea, headache, stress and anxiety cause health problems and economic losses worldwide. Many of these effects come from alcohol and its breakdown product, acetaldehyde.
Healthy men who had experience of hangover or headache were recruited. Nineteen males randomly took placebo and L-cysteine tablets in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. They drank alcohol at a dose of 1.5 g/kg over 3 hours.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The study was small and only in men, so the results may not apply to women or to larger groups.
- The trial looked at short-term hangover symptoms after one drinking session, not long-term health effects.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Helsinki, Finland; Helsinki University Hospital, Finland; University of Eastern Finland, Finland
The paper
- Title
- L-Cysteine Containing Vitamin Supplement Which Prevents or Alleviates Alcohol-related Hangover Symptoms: Nausea, Headache, Stress and Anxiety
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Eriksson CJP, Metsälä M, Möykkynen T, et al (2020). L-Cysteine Containing Vitamin Supplement Which Prevents or Alleviates Alcohol-related Hangover Symptoms: Nausea, Headache, Stress and Anxiety. Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire). doi:10.1093/alcalc/agaa082PubMed 32808029DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error