Eliminate the effects of alcohol abuse, avoiding a hangover: this is the promise of a food supplement recently marketed in France.
- In 2017, 86.5% of adults aged 18-75 said they had drunk alcohol in the past year.
- In 2020, almost 24% of the population aged 18-75 exceeded the drinking guidelines.
- Boxes of Myrkl food supplements are sold at 34.80 euros for 30 tablets.
Drinking alcohol without paying the consequences. Pills Myrkl, created by a Swedish laboratory, are presented as a cure for hangovers. It is now possible to buy them in France.
A pill to destroy alcohol after consumption
The De Faire laboratory, at the origin of Myrkl, explains that two tablets must be taken two hours before drinking for dietary supplements to be effective. They contain probiotics (bacillus coagulans and bacillus subtilis), L-cysteine, an amino acid, and vitamin B12, which will act on the alcohol before it reaches the intestine. According to the promises of its manufacturer, the pill would make it possible to eliminate 70% of the alcohol consumed in 1 hour, while destroying the calories linked to alcohol.
Doubts about the effectiveness of the anti-hangover pill
In the UK, dietary supplements were authorized this summer, prompting questions from the press. WalesOnline recalled in particular that hangovers are mainly linked to dehydration caused by alcohol, which can cause headaches. “But since the pills only work after the alcohol has passed from the stomach to the intestine, they will not stop the effect of alcohol on the stomach.”estimated the information site.
The Swedish company has carried out a scientific study to prove the effects of its food supplement. 24 healthy adults took part: they either took Myrkl pills or placebos for seven days. They were then given a small amount of alcohol, assessed by weight, and blood alcohol level measurements were taken. This research has enabled the laboratory to claim that the amount of alcohol in the blood drops by 70% after one hour in people taking the supplements. But it has several limitations: only 14 of the 24 participants were included in the results, because ten had a lower alcohol level from the start. Second, the participants took the dietary supplements for seven days, for a single dose of alcohol, but the recommendations are to take two pills just before consumption. Finally, the Welsh media points to the lack of precision of the research insofar as the results vary from one person to another.
Alcohol is harmful to health, even without a hangover!
As a reminder, alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. “Whether regular or occasional, excessive alcohol intake can be dangerous“, recalls theHealth Insurance. Thus, there is no risk-free consumption for long-term health. “Since 2017, the benchmark for adults, regardless of gender, has been set at 10 standard drinks per week, maximum, without exceeding 2 standard drinks per day., says the organization. It is also recommended to have days without consumption during the week. While alcohol can cause injuries and illnesses, it can also kill. As recalled byWorld Health Organizationthree million deaths are linked to the harmful use of alcohol every year worldwide.
