Drink without hangover? Scientists create gel that can make alcohol harmless to the human body

Drinking alcohol can lead to a variety of health problems, including liver disease.Alcohol can also affect cognitive function and impair judgment which can lead to accidents and risky behaviour such as drunk driving. This contributes to millions of deaths globally each year. However, now researchers at ETH Zurich have unveiled a promising breakthrough in mitigating these risks.

A new protein gel can render alcohol completely harmless. This is as per a study published in Nature Nanotechnology which elaborates how alcohol breakdown in the gastrointestinal tract can potentially offer a preventive measure against alcohol-related health issues.

WATCH | Influencer's big yawn goes wrong, jaw locked wide open!

According to Professor Raffaele Mezzenga from the Laboratory of Food & Soft Materials at ETH Zurich, "The gel shifts the breakdown of alcohol from the liver to the digestive tract. In contrast to when alcohol is metabolised in the liver, no harmful acetaldehyde is produced as an intermediate product."

Also Read |Rethinking the brain's cleanup crew: Sleep does not detox brain as previously thought. Here's what does

Notably, the gel, primarily composed of whey proteins, undergoes a unique process to form long fibrils. Iron atoms, evenly distributed on the fibril surface, act as catalysts for alcohol breakdown. Meanwhile, gold nanoparticles, reacting with glucose, produce hydrogen peroxide. This process initiates the conversion of alcohol to harmless acetic acid within the gel.

Study conducted on mice

Initial tests on mice showed promising results. When administered, the gel reduced blood alcohol levels by up to 56 per cent within five hours post-consumption. Moreover, mice receiving the gel daily alongside alcohol intake exhibited reduced liver damage and improved metabolic health compared to control groups.

Watch | Mass migration of venemous snakes: Study, migration to take place around 2070

Mezzenga highlighted, "It's healthier not to drink alcohol at all. However, the gel could be of particular interest to people who don't want to give up alcohol completely, but don't want to put a strain on their bodies and aren't actively seeking the effects of alcohol."

The researchers have filed for a patent for the gel. Though further clinical trials are necessary before human use authorisation, the gel's edible whey protein composition offers promising prospects.

(With inputs from agencies)