L-cysteine tablets and alcohol hangover symptoms in men
What it found
L-cysteine tablets reduced hangover, nausea, headache, stress and anxiety after drinking alcohol in a small trial of men.
Lower doses helped with stress and anxiety, while higher doses were needed for the other symptoms.
What they found
Studies in people
Hangover, nausea and headache
A dose of 1200 mg of L-cysteine appeared to prevent or ease hangover, nausea and headache after drinking alcohol.
Stress and anxiety
A lower dose of 600 mg of L-cysteine was enough to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety after drinking.
What the authors conclude
- They suggest that L-cysteine could lessen the urge to drink again the next day by reducing hangover symptoms like nausea, headache, stress and anxiety.
- The authors believe these effects are unique and could have a future role in easing these harmful symptoms and lowering the risk of alcohol addiction.
How it was done
Hangovers cause health problems and economic losses around the world. Alcohol and its breakdown product acetaldehyde drive many of these harmful effects, so the authors wanted to see if L-cysteine could help.
Nineteen healthy male volunteers who had experienced hangovers or headaches took part. They swallowed either placebo or L-cysteine tablets at random without knowing which they received. They then drank 1.5 g/kg of alcohol over 3 hours.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial only included men, so it cannot show whether women would get the same results.
- Because the group was very small, scientists do not yet know how reliable these findings are for everyone.
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 1 Oct 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error