How could diet affect hangover?

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    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Eating high-energy meals before or during drinking alcohol can reduce blood alcohol concentration and potentially lessen hangover severity, and the intake of vitamin B3 and zinc has been linked to lower hangover severity.

    Despite the commonly-held belief that eating bread or greasy food will help to prevent a hangover by “soaking up” the alcohol, there’s no scientific evidence to support this effect. However, eating food (especially high-energy meals) before or during a drinking episode will help to mitigate the rate and magnitude of the rise in BAC, decrease the absorption of alcohol, and slow the metabolism of alcohol — leading to less intoxication and perhaps a less-severe hangover. Dietary intake of nicotinic acid and zinc is known to play a role in the metabolism of alcohol (ethanol) into acetaldehyde. Studies have found that social drinkers with higher intakes of zinc and nicotinic acid have a lower hangover severity. The intakes of other nutrients, including fat, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, salt, or vitamins B, D, C, and E, are not associated with hangover severity.[1]

    How could diet affect hangover? - Examine