HealthRevolutionary gel from ETH Zurich scientists could halve alcohol's harm

Revolutionary gel from ETH Zurich scientists could halve alcohol's harm

University of Zurich

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14 May 2024 10:06

Scientists from ETH University in Zurich have possibly made a groundbreaking discovery. They have developed a special gel that negates the negative symptoms of alcohol consumption. So far, studies in mice have shown that it is possible to reduce blood alcohol levels by as much as 50 percent.

Although the discovery has only been tested on animals, scientists are already announcing success. Before starting human trials, the Zurich researchers decided to patent their invention. If it successfully passes all the tests in humans, it could revolutionize medicine.

So far, in studies on mice, the gel neutralizing the effects of alcohol consumption has worked wonderfully. In rodents that were given alcohol, it was able to lower its level in the blood by up to 50%. This means that there was a significant reduction in health damage that occurs during the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

"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," explains Professor Raffaele Mezzenga from the Laboratory of Food Materials and Soft Materials at ETH Zurich.

Besides merely mitigating the effects of alcohol consumption, the drug could also be effective in combating hangovers. At the same time, in mice given it daily along with alcohol, significantly less liver or spleen damage was observed. This was also associated with almost no weight loss.

However, the scientists stress that the gel does not encourage alcohol consumption. Its target group is people who drink alcohol occasionally and do not want to destroy their health.

"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," says Prof. Mezzenga.