Heavy on this may lead to lighter hangovers

Oxygen, it would seem, has an effect on the severity of hangovers. On March 1, a new study was published in
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, an academic journal, and researchers concluded that "enhanced dissolved oxygen concentrations in alcohol may reduce alcohol-related side effects."

Researchers at Chungnam National University in South Korea found that when healthy subjects drank "elevated dissolved oxygen concentrations in alcoholic drinks," the metabolism and elimination of alcohol increased faster (30 minutes) than without the oxygenation.

The study didn't prevent participants feeling drunk, only the duration of time the alcohol stayed in the body. Casey Johnston, contributor to Ars Technica, an art and technology news site, pointed out, "the process might produce a less-intense hangover, [but] oxygenated drinks that dissipate more rapidly won't exactly help customers get their money's worth."

It's unclear how oxygen-infused cocktails will be concocted, though one possibility may be that machines to oxygenate water will be used to transform well drinks into wellbeing drinks.

Koreans may have figured it out with O2 Linn, a new oxygenated soju (traditional distilled alcohol beverage usually from rice or sweet potato) drink that will still get you drunk (if that's what you want) minus the hangover. The company claims O2 Linn will "help clarify your brain, energize your body cells and maintain healthy and resilient skin." The campaign is "O2 Linn for 3B (body, beauty, brain) and has above 22ppm of oxygen in each bottle touting an "exceptionally large amount of oxygen is dissolved in O2 Linn than any other liquor or soju."

Here is a breakdown of oxygen ppm in various beverages according to O2 Linn's site:

Herb wine: 0.5ppm
Beer: 0.6ppm
Wine: 2.7ppm
Whisky: 5ppm
Soju: 8ppm
O2 Linn: 22+ppm

It is unclear when O2 Linn will be available internationally or if the researchers used O2 Linn during their study. Visit KoreaSoju.co.kr for more information on O2 Linn.

Study, "Influence of Dissolved Oxygen Concentration on the Pharmacokinetics of Alcohol in Humans": http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123305743/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

For men only: A pilgrimage to Mount Athos in Greece

For men only: A pilgrimage to Mount Athos

On a secluded peninsula in north-east Greece lies an enclave that's way off the tourist map, especially for women...
48 Hours In: Faro

48 Hours In: Faro

More than just the gateway to the Algarve, this city has much to tempt you off the beach.
Here, the coast is always clear: Celebrating sixty years of Pembrokeshire's National Park

60 years of Pembrokeshire's National Park

Mick Webb reveals a land of puffins, tanks and Hollywood blockbusters.
Free Range: Meet the designers of tomorrow

Free Range

Meet the artists of the future
Feeding a hungry world – or meddling with laws of nature?

Feeding a hungry world – or meddling with laws of nature?

As scientists at Rothamsted's GM trials plead with activists not to sabotage their work, Michael McCarthy visits the battle field
Monkey meat that could be behind the next HIV

Monkey meat that could be behind the next HIV

Deep in Cameroon's rainforests, poachers are killing primates for food. Evan Williams reports from Yokadouma on a practice that could create a pandemic
Catcalls, whistles, groping: just another day for a young woman

Catcalls, whistles, groping: just another day for a young woman

Government urged to take abuse more seriously as London study shows 41 per cent are harassed
Jailing of Maori separatists stirs colonial-era resentment

Jailing of Maori separatists stirs colonial-era resentment

Militant Tuhoe tribe members defiant amid claims race relations had been set back 100 years
Fatal crashes are cyclists' fault, says Boris

Fatal crashes are cyclists' fault, says Boris

Mayor condemned for saying that two-thirds of riders killed on the road were at fault in accidents
Move over Brangelina, this night belongs to Kingston Bagpuize

Move over Brangelina, this night belongs to Kingston Bagpuize

Unlikely community movie beats the stars to get prized Leicester Square premiere
Solved after 33 years? Case of first missing boy shown on milk carton

Solved after 33 years?

Case of first missing boy shown on milk carton
Like mamma used to make: Pizza Pilgrims is proving a word-of mouth sensation

Pizza Pilgrims: Like mamma used to make

A van dispensing purist pizzas is proving a word-of mouth sensation
The supper on its uppers: Why we need to learn to entertain lavishly for less

Supper on its uppers: Entertain lavishly for less

Dinner parties are buckling under the pressures of food snobbery and belt-tightening...
The 10 best summer cookbooks

The 10 best summer cookbooks

From Claudia Roden's The Food of Spain to The Art of Cooking with Vegetables by Alain Passard...
Gorgeous Georgian: Now we can enjoy the cuisine of Russia's fiery neighbour nearer home

Gorgeous Georgian cuisine

The food of Russia's fiery neighbour is among the world's most inventive and original