RESUMO
Acetaldehyde, the major cytotoxin formed by the metabolism of alcohol, is responsible for liver injury, extracellular matrix alterations, inflammation, and hangover in heavy drinkers. This study aimed to demonstrate the efficacy of a standardized polyphenolic extract of clove buds (Clovinol) in ameliorating the oxidative stress and inflammation caused by the accumulation of acetaldehyde after binge drinking. We used a randomized, double-blinded crossover study with 16 male social drinkers. The subjects were randomized into two groups of eight subjects and received either placebo or Clovinol in a single hard shell gelatin capsule (250 mg × 1) per day. The dosage of alcohol was 1 g/kg body weight/day. After 2 weeks of washout period, the treatment regime was reversed. Blood samples were drawn at 0, 0.5, 2, 4, and 12 h after treatment with either placebo or Clovinol, and biochemical parameters were analyzed. Hangover severity score was determined by using a validated questionnaire as reported earlier. Results showed faster elimination of blood acetaldehyde with significant decreases in oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and significant enhancement in glutathione and superoxide dismutase as compared with placebo along with an overall reduction of 55.34% in hangover severity in Clovinol-treated subjects. This study demonstrated the efficacy of clove bud polyphenols for alleviating alcohol-related side effects among social drinkers at the studied dose.