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Consuming alcoholic beverages results in the generation of free radicals. People who drink a lot of alcohol often suffer a hangover because of massive free radical-induced cellular damage.
Alcohol-induced free radical assault can wreak short-term havoc throughout the body, and these same damaging free radicals are associated with accelerated aging.
Astronomical cost of hangovers
A landmark study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine detailed the enormous economic costs of lost productivity attributable to hangovers: "In the United States, related absenteeism and poor job performance cost $148 billion annually (average annual cost per working adult, $2,000)."1
Protecting against alcohol toxicity
A study published in the journal Alcohol demonstrated how antioxidants help to maintain a healthy brain.2 Another study in the journal Artery confirmed a specific toxic metabolite of alcohol (acetaldehyde) and identified an antidote (N-acetyl-cysteine): "All known pathways of ethanol metabolism result in the production of acetaldehyde, a highly reactive compound. N-acetyl-cysteine, an analogue of the dietary amino acid cysteine, binds acetaldehyde, thus preventing its damaging effect on physiological proteins."3
These findings are not surprising, considering that the consumption of alcohol inflicts massive free radical damage throughout the body. When people are exposed to a known toxic substance such as alcohol, it makes perfect sense to take a proven antidote-namely, antioxidants.
Life Extension's Anti-Alcohol Antioxidants with HepatoProtection Complex is an improved formula containing additional antioxidants designed to suppress free radicals, neutralize toxic alcohol metabolites such as acetaldehyde,4-7 and protect against liver toxicity and hepatic injury commonly associated with alcohol consumption. In addition to vitamin B1, vitamin C, N-acetyl-cysteine and benfotiamine, this new formula's HepatoProtection Complex provides potent doses of these novel antioxidants:
- Chlorophyllin, an antimutagenic agent that protects the body from oxidative stress than can stimulate cellular mutation.
- Leucoselect® grapeseed extract, silymarin (from milk thistle), and resveratrol, three hepatoprotective agents that aid in reducing mutagenic compounds from potentially toxic xenobiotics and protecting cells from free radial-induced oxidative stress.
- Picroliv® Picrorhiza kurroa root extract, containing antioxidant kutkins that scavenge alcohol-induced excess free radicals, guard against alcohol-induced damage to cells by lipid peroxidation, and stimulate regeneration of cells (hepatocytes).
- Barley grass juice 24:1 extract, which enhances the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, thus inhibiting the formation of acetaldehyde malondialdehyde.
Taking the proper supplements before and after drinking can substantially mitigate hangover effects experienced by people suffering from acute alcohol toxicity.
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