Agent for preventing or ameliorating hangover

Abstract

An agent for preventing or ameliorating a hangover according to the present invention comprises the following component A and component B. (A) The following glutathione or a biosynthetic precursor thereof: a combination of cysteine or a derivative thereof and glutamic acid or a derivative thereof; or glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine, or a derivative of these. (B) The following biosynthetic precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD): one or more selected from the group consisting of niacinamide, niacin, tryptophan, nicotinamide riboside, and nicotinamide mononucleotide. As a result, an agent having the excellent effect of preventing or ameliorating a hangover can be provided.

Description

Hangover prevention or relief agent

[0001] The present invention relates to an agent for preventing or ameliorating hangover symptoms, which can be prevented or ameliorated by taking it once.

[0002] When alcoholic beverages are consumed, the alcohol (ethanol) ingested into the body is oxidized to acetaldehyde via the alcohol dehydrogenase system, primarily in the liver, and then further oxidized to acetic acid by aldehyde dehydrogenase. If too much alcohol is consumed or alcohol metabolism is delayed due to poor physical condition, the body will not be able to process all of the acetaldehyde, resulting in high blood acetaldehyde concentrations and unpleasant symptoms such as intoxication and hangovers due to the toxicity of acetaldehyde.

[0003] A hangover generally refers to the physical and mental discomfort that occurs the day after drinking alcohol, and specific symptoms known to be associated with it include headache, fatigue, nausea, decreased quality of sleep, muscle pain, etc. To prevent or alleviate a hangover, it is important to promote alcohol metabolism, and various oral substances have been proposed to achieve this (e.g., Patent Documents 1 and 2, etc.).

[0004] Patent No. 6009050 International Publication No. 2016 / 072496

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an agent that is excellent in the effect of preventing or alleviating hangovers.

[0006] As a result of extensive research conducted by the present inventors to solve the above problems, they discovered that simultaneous intake of glutathione or its biosynthetic precursor and a biosynthetic precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) can provide excellent effects in preventing or alleviating hangovers, leading to the completion of the present invention. Specifically, the present invention is as follows.

[0007] [1] A hangover prevention or amelioration agent, comprising the following components A and B: (A) glutathione or a biosynthetic precursor thereof: a combination of cysteine ​​or a derivative thereof and glutamic acid or a derivative thereof; or glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine, or a derivative thereof; (B) one or more biosynthetic precursors of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) selected from the group consisting of niacinamide, niacin, tryptophan, nicotinamide riboside, and nicotinamide mononucleotide. [2] The agent for preventing or ameliorating a hangover according to [1], wherein the cysteine ​​or derivative thereof is one or more selected from the group consisting of cysteine, cystine, and N-acetylcysteine, the glutamic acid or derivative thereof is one or more selected from the group consisting of glutamic acid, theanine, and pyroglutamic acid, and the glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine, or derivatives thereof is one or more selected from the group consisting of glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine, and glutathione disulfide. [3] The agent for preventing or ameliorating a hangover according to [1], wherein the glutathione or its biosynthetic precursor is a combination of cystine and theanine, and the NAD biosynthetic precursor is niacinamide. [4] The agent for preventing or ameliorating a hangover according to [1], containing 100 to 2200 mg of the cysteine ​​or a derivative thereof, 45 to 900 mg of the glutamic acid or a derivative thereof, and 60 to 1300 mg of the NAD biosynthetic precursor per oral intake. [5] The agent for preventing or ameliorating a hangover according to [1], which is in the form of a capsule, tablet, or granule. [6] The agent for preventing or ameliorating a hangover according to [1], wherein the hangover symptom prevented or ameliorated is one or more symptoms selected from the group consisting of fatigue, nausea, and quality of sleep.

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an agent for preventing or ameliorating hangovers that has excellent effects.

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described. A hangover prevention or amelioration agent according to this embodiment contains (A) glutathione or a biosynthetic precursor thereof, and (B) a biosynthetic precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD).

[0010] In preventing or ameliorating hangovers, it is important to promote the metabolism of alcohol (ethanol) in the liver. It is recognized that ingesting glutathione or its biosynthetic precursor (component A) can increase the amount of glutathione in the liver, thereby improving liver function. On the other hand, ingesting the biosynthetic precursor of NAD (component B) can increase the amount of NAD, a cofactor for alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase, thereby promoting alcohol metabolism. Therefore, simultaneous ingestion of components A and B can synergistically promote the metabolism of alcohol (ethanol) in the liver, effectively preventing or ameliorating hangover symptoms.

[0011] (Component A) The agent for preventing or ameliorating hangovers according to this embodiment contains glutathione or a biosynthetic precursor thereof as component A. Note that all components A used in this embodiment are in the L-form.

[0012] Glutathione is a tripeptide composed of three amino acids: glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. The glutathione biosynthetic pathway is as follows: First, γ-glutamylcysteine ​​is biosynthesized through an amide bond between the γ-carboxy group of glutamic acid and the amino group of cysteine ​​by γ-glutamylcysteine ​​synthetase; then, glutathione is biosynthesized through a peptide bond between the carboxy group derived from γ-glutamylcysteine ​​and the amino group of glycine. Here, the term "biosynthetic precursor" of glutathione refers to the glutamic acid, cysteine, and γ-glutamylcysteine ​​used in the biosynthetic pathway, as well as derivatives of these three components or glutathione.

[0013] In this embodiment, the term "derivative" refers to a compound derived from glutamic acid, cysteine, γ-glutamylcysteine, or glutathione and converted into these components via a biosynthetic pathway. Specific examples include alkyl esters in which the carboxy group of these components is modified with an alkyl group; amides or alkylamides in which the carboxy group is modified with an amino group or alkylamino group; acylation products in which the amino group is modified with an acyl group; and alkyl sulfides or carboxyalkyl sulfides in which the thiol group is modified with an alkyl group or carboxyalkyl group. The alkyl group as the modifying group may have 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and may have 1 or 2 carbon atoms (i.e., a methyl group or an ethyl group). The alkylamino group as the modifying group may have 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and may have 1 or 2 carbon atoms (i.e., a methylamino group or an ethylamino group). The acyl group as the modifying group may have 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and may have 2 or 3 carbon atoms (i.e., an acetyl group or a propionyl group). The derivative used in this embodiment may have multiple of the above modifying groups within its molecule.

[0014] The derivatives of this embodiment also include cyclic compounds obtained by intramolecular condensation of the above components. Furthermore, for cysteine, γ-glutamylcysteine, and glutathione, which have a thiol group in the molecule, dimers in which the thiol groups of two monomer molecules form a disulfide bond (so-called "oxidized dimers") are also included in the derivatives of this embodiment.

[0015] Glutathione or its biosynthetic precursor may be in the form of a salt. In this embodiment, terms indicating individual components, such as "glutathione or its biosynthetic precursor," "NAD biosynthetic precursor" (described later), or "glutamic acid," are concepts that include salts thereof.

[0016] Here, in this embodiment, the "salt" is not particularly limited as long as it is pharmaceutically acceptable, and can be a salt with an acid or a base. The acid used to form a salt may be either an inorganic acid or an organic acid, and examples of inorganic acids include hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and phosphoric acid. Examples of organic acids include formic acid, acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, oxalic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, citric acid, malonic acid, and methanesulfonic acid. On the other hand, examples of salts with bases include salts with alkali metals such as sodium and potassium; salts with alkaline earth metals such as calcium and magnesium; and the like.

[0017] In this embodiment, as component A (glutathione or its biosynthetic precursor), (A1) cysteine ​​or a derivative thereof and (A2) glutamic acid or a derivative thereof are used in combination; or (A3) glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine, or a derivative thereof is used.

[0018] (Component A1) Preferred examples of component A1, that is, cysteine ​​or a derivative thereof, include cysteine, its oxidized dimer (ie, cystine), and alkyl esters, acylated products, and carboxyalkyl sulfides thereof, which may be combined with a modifying group.

[0019] Specific examples of component A1 include cysteine ​​and cystine. Examples of their alkyl esters include cysteine ​​methyl ester and cysteine ​​ethyl ester; examples of their carboxyalkyl sulfides include S-(carboxymethyl)-cysteine; and examples of their acylated derivatives include N-acyl cysteines (e.g., N-acetyl cysteine), N-acyl cystines (e.g., N-acetyl cystine), and N,N'-diacyl cystines (e.g., N,N'-diacetyl cystine). Examples of compounds in combination with modifying groups include N-acyl cysteine ​​alkyl esters (e.g., N-acetyl cysteine ​​methyl ester, N-acetyl cysteine ​​ethyl ester), N-acyl cystine alkyl esters (e.g., N-acetyl cystine methyl ester), and N,N'-diacyl cystine dialkyl esters (e.g., N,N'-diacetyl cystine dimethyl ester, N,N'-diacetyl cystine diethyl ester). The component A1 may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0020] (Component A2) Preferred examples of component A2, i.e., glutamic acid or a derivative thereof, include glutamic acid, its amides, alkylamides, and intramolecularly condensed cyclic compounds. Examples of amides of glutamic acid include glutamine; examples of alkylamides include γ-glutamylethylamide (i.e., theanine) and γ-glutamylmethylamide; and examples of intramolecularly condensed cyclic compounds include pyroglutamic acid. One type of component A2 may be used alone, or two or more types may be used in combination.

[0021] (Component A3) Preferred examples of A3, i.e., glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine, or derivatives thereof, include glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine; oxidized dimers; and acylated products thereof. Examples of oxidized dimers include glutathione disulfide (oxidized glutathione), and examples of acylated products thereof include glutathione alkyl esters (e.g., glutathione ethyl ester), oxidized glutathione dialkyl esters (e.g., oxidized glutathione diethyl ester), and the like. One type of component A3 may be used alone, or two or more types may be used in combination.

[0022] In this embodiment, the A component is either a combination of the A1 component and the A2 component, or the A3 component. Among the above, cysteine, cystine, and N-acetylcysteine ​​are preferably used as the A1 component, with cystine being particularly preferred. Among the above, glutamic acid, theanine, and pyroglutamic acid are preferably used as the A2 component, with theanine being particularly preferred. Furthermore, among the above, glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine, and glutathione disulfide are preferably used as the A3 component, with glutathione being particularly preferred. That is, in a particularly preferred aspect of this embodiment, it is preferred to use cystine and theanine in combination as the A component, or to use glutathione as is.

[0023] When the A1 component and the A2 component are used in combination, the content ratio of A1:A2, calculated by mass, is preferably 100:1 to 1:100, more preferably 100:2 to 1:10, even more preferably 100:10 to 100:100, and particularly preferably 100:20 to 100:60.

[0024] (Component B) The hangover prevention or amelioration agent according to this embodiment contains a biosynthetic precursor of NAD as component B. The biosynthetic precursor of NAD used in this embodiment is one or more selected from the group consisting of niacinamide (nicotinamide), niacin (nicotinic acid), tryptophan, nicotinamide riboside, and nicotinamide mononucleotide. As mentioned above, the biosynthetic precursor of NAD may be in the form of a salt.

[0025] Of the above, niacinamide, niacin, and nicotinamide mononucleotide are preferred as component B, with niacinamide being particularly preferred.

[0026] The content ratio of component A (when A1 and A2 are used in combination, the total amount) to component B is preferably 100:1 to 1:100 by mass, more preferably 100:2 to 1:10, even more preferably 100:10 to 100:100, and particularly preferably 100:20 to 100:60.

[0027] (Form, Manufacturing Method) The form of the hangover prevention or amelioration agent according to this embodiment is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, in the form of a capsule, tablet, or granule. The manufacturing method of the hangover prevention or amelioration agent is also not particularly limited, and a known manufacturing method can be adopted depending on the form. More specifically, the agent can be manufactured by blending and mixing the above-mentioned components A and B, as well as other components as desired, and subjecting the mixture to a process such as capsule filling, tableting, or granulation depending on the form.

[0028] (Other Components) Examples of other components that can be used in this embodiment include excipients, binders, lubricants, disintegrants, antioxidants, nutritional enhancers, colorants, and preservatives.

[0029] Furthermore, in this embodiment, from the viewpoint of enhancing the effect of preventing or alleviating hangovers, a component that activates glutathione biosynthesis other than the above-mentioned Component A, or a component that activates alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase other than the above-mentioned Component B, may be further blended. Examples of components that activate glutathione biosynthesis other than the above-mentioned Component A include silymarin extract. Examples of components that activate alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase other than the above-mentioned Component B include zinc and selenium. These may be blended in the form of, for example, zinc yeast, selenium yeast, etc.

[0030] (Method of Ingestion) The hangover prevention or amelioration agent according to this embodiment may be ingested once or continuously for a predetermined period of time (for example, one week or more). As will be shown in the examples described below, the hangover prevention or amelioration agent according to this embodiment can exert a sufficient effect even when ingested once.

[0031] Ingestion in a "single dose" refers to ingestion of a single dose of the formulation in a short period of time (for example, within 10 minutes, or even within 5 minutes). Specifically, this includes swallowing a single dose of the formulation in one go, as well as swallowing it in multiple bites over a short period of time.

[0032] The timing of intake is not particularly limited as long as it is before or after drinking, and may be before, during, or after drinking. Before drinking refers, for example, to within two hours before drinking, and more preferably 30 minutes or more before drinking. After drinking refers, for example, to within one hour after the last drink. Among these, intake within two hours before drinking is preferred, and intake between two hours and 30 minutes before drinking is particularly preferred.

[0033] (Intake Amount, etc.) The hangover prevention or amelioration agent according to this embodiment preferably contains 150 to 3,000 mg, more preferably 300 to 2,000 mg, and particularly preferably 500 to 1,500 mg of (A) glutathione or its biosynthetic precursor per oral intake. Furthermore, when component A is a combination of (A1) cysteine ​​or a derivative thereof and (A2) glutamic acid or a derivative thereof: the agent preferably contains 100 to 2,200 mg, more preferably 220 to 1,500 mg, and particularly preferably 450 to 1,100 mg of component A1; and the agent preferably contains 45 to 900 mg, more preferably 90 to 600 mg, and particularly preferably 180 to 400 mg of component A2.

[0034] The hangover prophylactic or ameliorating agent according to this embodiment preferably contains 60 to 1300 mg, more preferably 120 to 900 mg, and particularly preferably 250 to 650 mg of (B) NAD biosynthetic precursor per oral intake. Note that the "amount to be taken orally in one dose" here refers to the amount taken orally in a short period of time as explained above in the "single dose" section.

[0035] (Target of intake) The target of intake of the beverage composition according to this embodiment is not particularly limited, and may be any person who experiences hangover symptoms the day after drinking alcohol. Among these, people who experience redness in the face after drinking alcohol (flusterers) are particularly suitable, as the effect is significant for such people.

[0036] (Use) The agent for preventing or ameliorating hangovers according to this embodiment broadly includes orally ingested general foods, health foods, foods with health claims (foods for specified health uses, foods with nutrient functions, foods and beverages with functional claims), quasi-drugs, etc.

[0037] Examples of hangover symptoms that can be prevented or improved by the hangover prophylactic or ameliorating agent according to this embodiment include headache, fatigue (body malaise, lethargy, fatigue), nausea (including stomach upset and vomiting), quality of sleep, muscle pain (including weakness and a sense of weakness), autonomic nervous system symptoms (hand tremors, sweating, increased heart rate, etc.), mood changes (anxiety, irritability, depression, etc.), etc. Of these, the agent is particularly effective for headache, fatigue, nausea, and quality of sleep.

[0038] The above-described embodiments have been described to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiments is intended to include all design modifications and equivalents that fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0039] For example, the present invention further includes the following other embodiments 1 to 3. Note that the preferred aspects of the above-described embodiment are also applicable to the following other embodiments 1 to 3.

[0040] (Another embodiment 1) Use of the following components A and B in the manufacture of an agent for preventing or ameliorating hangovers: (A) the following glutathione or a biosynthetic precursor thereof: a combination of cysteine ​​or a derivative thereof and glutamic acid or a derivative thereof; or glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine ​​or a derivative thereof; (B) the following biosynthetic precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD): one or more selected from the group consisting of niacinamide, niacin, tryptophan, nicotinamide riboside, and nicotinamide mononucleotide.

[0041] (Another embodiment 2) A combination of the following components A and B, used for preventing or ameliorating hangovers: (A) the following glutathione or a biosynthetic precursor thereof: a combination of cysteine ​​or a derivative thereof and glutamic acid or a derivative thereof; or glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine ​​or a derivative thereof; (B) the following biosynthetic precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD): one or more selected from the group consisting of niacinamide, niacin, tryptophan, nicotinamide riboside, and nicotinamide mononucleotide.

[0042] (Another Embodiment 3) A method for preventing or ameliorating a hangover in a subject in need thereof, comprising the steps of: preparing an agent for preventing or ameliorating a hangover, comprising the following components A and B; and administering an effective amount of the agent for preventing or ameliorating a hangover to the subject in need thereof. (A) one of the following glutathione or a biosynthetic precursor thereof: a combination of cysteine ​​or a derivative thereof, and glutamic acid or a derivative thereof; or glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine, or a derivative thereof; (B) one or more of the following biosynthetic precursors of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD): niacinamide, niacin, tryptophan, nicotinamide riboside, and nicotinamide mononucleotide.

[0043] The present invention will be explained in more detail below by showing test examples, etc., but the present invention is not limited to the following test examples, etc.

[0044] [Test Example 1] (1) Research Subjects Eleven people (8 men, 3 women) who met the following inclusion criteria and did not meet the following exclusion criteria were recruited as research subjects. The research subjects recruited were flushers whose faces turn red when they drink alcohol. The ages of the research subjects ranged from 28 to 51 years old (32.5±6.5 years (mean±standard deviation)). The research content was fully explained to the research subjects, and consent to participate in the study was obtained from all research subjects before the study was conducted.

[0045] [Inclusion criteria] - Men and women aged 20 to 65 at the time of obtaining consent to participate in the study - Healthy individuals with no chronic physical illnesses - Individuals who regularly consume alcohol and regularly experience hangover symptoms such as headache, fatigue, nausea, and lack of sleep after consuming more than the appropriate amount - Individuals who have received a full explanation of the purpose and content of the study, are competent to consent, fully understand the purpose and content, and voluntarily volunteer to participate, and can provide written consent to participate in the study.

[0046] [Exclusion criteria] - People who rarely or never experience hangover symptoms (people who have experienced hangover symptoms twice or less in the past year) - People currently receiving drug treatment for any illness - People with a medical history or current illness of mental illness, sleep disorder, high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, etc. - People who have taken medication for the purpose of treating an illness within the past month (however, minor emergency medications for headaches, menstrual pain, and colds are excluded) - People with a medical history or current illness of serious diseases of the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood, etc. - People with liver or kidney disease, or people who have been diagnosed with alcohol dependence - People with a serious coexisting disease or medical history of the digestive system - BMI of 18.5 kg / m 2 Less than or 30 kg / m 2 Those who meet the above criteria: - Those with a systolic blood pressure of 140mmHg or higher, a diastolic blood pressure of 90mmHg or higher, or a pulse rate of 85 beats per minute or higher - Those with a known allergic reaction to the supplement ingredients in this study - Those who regularly use health foods or supplements (excluding those who can stop taking them during the study period) - Those who plan to make major changes to their lifestyle during the study period (e.g., long-term travel or relocation) - Women who may be pregnant or who are breastfeeding - Those currently participating in other clinical trials or those who have been in other clinical trials for less than three months - Those who work for companies that develop, manufacture, or sell health foods or cosmetics, or their family members - Others who the principal investigator deems inappropriate to be study subjects

[0047] (2) Test Foods In this study, the raw materials shown in Table 1 were mixed with excipients (crystalline cellulose, calcium stearate, and fine silicon dioxide) and filled into hard capsules No. 2 (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)), to prepare capsule tablet supplements for the test food and placebo food. The placebo food was filled with only the excipients, so that the weight per capsule was approximately the same. The study subjects were asked to take one of the supplements once (6 capsules per time) using the method described below.

[0048]

[0049] (3) Study Method: This study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study using a single oral dose. Study subjects consumed the supplements along with alcohol during the designated periods (periods 1 and 2). The following morning, subjects completed a questionnaire about their subjective symptoms. The amount of alcohol consumed was kept the same in periods 1 and 2, and subjects were required to take six capsules of the supplements at a time. In period 1, subjects were randomly assigned to receive either the test food or the placebo food, and in period 2, the test food and placebo foods were swapped.

[0050] (4) Evaluation Items The subjects were asked to evaluate the severity of their subjective symptoms using a VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) for the following items: Overall hangover Fatigue (body sluggishness, lethargy, tiredness) Nausea (including upset stomach and vomiting) Quality of sleep

[0051] (5) Results are shown in Table 2.

[0052]

[0053] (6) Discussion As shown in Table 2, the mean scores for the intervention group were higher than those for the control group in four categories: "overall hangover," "fatigue," "nausea," and "sleep quality." This suggests that the test food supplement may have a certain effect on hangover symptoms. Furthermore, the research subjects (subjects) themselves reported that taking the supplement contributed to improvement in certain symptoms, suggesting that the effect may be based on the subjective experience of each individual subject.

[0054] [Test Example 2] (1) Study subjects Four people (one male and three females) who met the following inclusion criteria and did not meet the following exclusion criteria were recruited as study subjects. The study subjects' ages ranged from 31 to 66 years (41.3±16.6 years (mean±standard deviation)). The study content was fully explained to the study subjects, and consent to participate in the study was obtained from all study subjects before the study was conducted.

[0055] [Inclusion criteria] Men and women aged 20 to 70 years at the time of obtaining consent to participate in the study. The inclusion criteria other than age were the same as in Study Example 1. [Exclusion criteria] The same as in Study Example 1.

[0056] (2) Test Foods In this study, the raw materials shown in Table 3 were mixed with excipients (crystalline cellulose, calcium stearate, and fine silicon dioxide) and filled into hard capsules No. 2 (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)) to prepare capsule supplements of the test food and placebo food, respectively. The study subjects were instructed to take one of the supplements once (6 capsules / time) using the method described below.

[0057]

[0058] (3) Test Method This test was a double-blind, crossover comparative study using a single oral dose. The study subjects were instructed to take supplements 1 to 4 along with alcohol during the designated periods (periods 1 to 4). The following morning, the study subjects completed a questionnaire about their subjective symptoms. The amount of alcohol consumed was kept the same in each of periods 1 to 4, and subjects were instructed to take six capsules of supplements at a time. The order in which supplements 1 to 4 were taken in each of periods 1 to 4 was the same for all subjects.

[0059] (4) Evaluation items The research subjects were asked to rate the severity of their subjective symptoms for the following items on a scale of 1 to 10. Note that higher numbers indicate "better physical condition" and "milder symptoms." - Overall hangover - Headache - Fatigue (body lethargy, lethargy, fatigue) - Nausea (including stomach upset and vomiting) - Sleep quality - Muscle pain and weakness - Autonomic nervous system symptoms (hand tremors, sweating, increased heart rate, etc.) - Mood changes (anxiety, irritability, depression, etc.)

[0060] (5) Results are shown in Table 4.

[0061]

[0062] (6) Discussion As shown in Table 4, intake of Food 4, which contained all three ingredients (A1, A2, B), resulted in higher average scores in all items for which responses were requested in the questionnaire compared to intake of Food 1 (A1, B), Food 2 (A1, A2), and Food 3 (A2, B), which contained only two ingredients. Therefore, intake of the three ingredients A1, A2, and B is considered to have a greater effect on preventing and improving hangover symptoms than intake of only two of these ingredients.

[0063] [Test Example 3] (1) Research subjects The same four people as in Test Example 2 were recruited as research subjects. The research content was fully explained to the research subjects, and consent to participate in the study was obtained from all research subjects before the study was conducted.

[0064] (2) Test Foods In this study, the raw materials shown in Table 5 were mixed with excipients (crystalline cellulose, calcium stearate, and fine silicon dioxide) and filled into hard capsules No. 2 (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)), to prepare capsule tablet supplements for the test food and placebo food, respectively. Note that the placebo food was filled with only the excipients, so that the weight per capsule was approximately the same. Study subjects were asked to take one of the supplements once (9 capsules per time) using the method described below.

[0065]

[0066] (3) Study Method: This study was conducted as a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study using a single oral dose. Study subjects consumed the supplements along with alcohol during the designated periods (periods 1 and 2). The following morning, they completed a questionnaire about their subjective symptoms. The amount of alcohol consumed was kept the same in periods 1 and 2, and subjects were required to take nine capsules of the supplements at a time. The test food was consumed in period 1, and the placebo food in period 2.

[0067] (4) Evaluation Items The same as in Test Example 2.

[0068] (5) Results are shown in Table 6.

[0069]

[0070] (6) Discussion As shown in Table 6, the intake of the test food resulted in higher average scores in all items surveyed compared to the placebo. Therefore, it was considered that the intake of glutathione (A3) and niacinamide (B) also has a high effect on preventing and improving hangover symptoms.

Claims

1. A hangover prevention or amelioration agent, comprising the following components A and B: (A) glutathione or a biosynthetic precursor thereof: a combination of cysteine or a derivative thereof and glutamic acid or a derivative thereof; or glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine or a derivative thereof; (B) one or more biosynthetic precursors of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) selected from the group consisting of niacinamide, niacin, tryptophan, nicotinamide riboside, and nicotinamide mononucleotide.

2. The agent for preventing or ameliorating a hangover according to claim 1, wherein the cysteine or derivative thereof is one or more species selected from the group consisting of cysteine, cystine, and N-acetylcysteine, the glutamic acid or derivative thereof is one or more species selected from the group consisting of glutamic acid, theanine, and pyroglutamic acid, and the glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine, or derivatives thereof is one or more species selected from the group consisting of glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine, and glutathione disulfide.

3. The agent for preventing or ameliorating hangovers according to claim 1, wherein the glutathione or its biosynthetic precursor is a combination of cystine and theanine, and the biosynthetic precursor of NAD is niacinamide.

4. The agent for preventing or ameliorating a hangover according to claim 1, containing 100 to 2200 mg of the cysteine or a derivative thereof, 45 to 900 mg of the glutamic acid or a derivative thereof, and 60 to 1300 mg of the biosynthetic precursor of NAD per oral intake.

5. The agent for preventing or alleviating hangovers according to claim 1, which is in the form of a capsule, tablet, or granule.

6. The agent for preventing or ameliorating a hangover according to claim 1, wherein the hangover symptoms to be prevented or ameliorated are one or more selected from the group consisting of fatigue, nausea, and quality of sleep.

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