Fruit Juice for Hangover Treatment
Fruit juice is not an effective treatment for alcohol hangover, and there is no scientific evidence supporting its use for this purpose.
Evidence Assessment
The available evidence does not support fruit juice as a hangover remedy:
No proven hangover treatments exist: A comprehensive 2021 review of 82 commercially available hangover products found no peer-reviewed human data demonstrating safety or efficacy for any hangover treatment, including those containing vitamins and plant extracts commonly found in fruit juices 1.
Water consumption is ineffective: A 2024 study definitively showed that water consumption during or after alcohol intake had only modest effects on preventing hangover, and drinking water during a hangover did not reduce symptom severity or thirst 2. Since fruit juice is predominantly water, this undermines any theoretical benefit 3.
Dehydration is not the primary cause: Hangover and dehydration are independent, co-occurring consequences of alcohol consumption rather than cause-and-effect 2. While fruit juice provides hydration, this does not address the actual pathophysiology of hangover symptoms.
Limited Evidence for Specific Juices
Korean pear juice showed modest benefit in one small 2013 study:
- A single-blind crossover trial with 14 healthy men found Korean pear juice reduced total hangover severity by 16% and improved concentration difficulties 4.
- Effects were modified by ALDH2 genetic variants, with no benefit in ALDH2*2/*2 genotype individuals 4.
- This represents the only fruit juice with any human data, but the study was small and has not been replicated 5.
Theoretical Concerns with Fruit Juice
High sugar content may worsen symptoms:
- Fruit juices contain 11-16 g% carbohydrates, significantly higher than appropriate rehydration solutions 3.
- Excessive fructose can cause gastrointestinal distress including bloating, flatulence, and osmotic diarrhea when consumed in large amounts 3.
- These symptoms overlap with common hangover complaints and could theoretically worsen the overall experience.
Low electrolyte content:
- Fruit juice contains only 1-3 mEq/L sodium, far below what is needed for effective rehydration (40-45 mEq/L in oral rehydration solutions) 3.
- This makes juice inferior to purpose-designed rehydration beverages if fluid replacement is needed.
Clinical Recommendation
For patients seeking hangover relief, advise:
- No currently available treatment, including fruit juice, has proven efficacy for hangover symptoms 1, 5.
- If rehydration is desired, oral electrolyte solutions are superior to fruit juice due to appropriate sodium content and lower carbohydrate concentration 3.
- Korean pear juice may provide modest benefit for some individuals, but evidence is limited to a single small study 4.
- The most effective strategy remains prevention through moderate alcohol consumption or abstinence.
Important Caveat
The provided evidence sources primarily address fruit juice in pediatric nutrition 3 and drug interactions 6, 7, 8, not hangover treatment specifically. The hangover-specific research 1, 2, 9, 5, 4 consistently shows lack of evidence for most proposed remedies, with only Korean pear juice having minimal supporting data.