Texas: Scientists have singled out a hormone that may help people recover from alcohol twice as fast. When tested on mice, the drunk mice were able to sober up twice as quickly. The finding may lead to a cure for alcohol poisoning.
The hormone is a common one named FGF21 and earlier it has been observed that the liver increases the production of this hormone when the bloodstream is flooded with alcohol. Researchers found that it helps protect the liver from the toxic effects of alcohol. When tested on mice and monkeys, the shot of hormone also reduced the desire to continue alcohol consumption, reported Science News.
Experts think that the hormone helps by activating nerve cells in the part of the brain involved in stimulating wakefulness. If the same system is present in humans as well, it may lead to the development of treatment for alcohol poisoning. It can also lower the risk of people choking while unconscious.
Researchers at the University of Texas wanted to test whether FGF21 plays a role in recovering from the effects of alcohol. They fed the mice alcohol and observed how long it takes them to sober up. Mice genetically altered to not produce FGF21 took an hour and a half longer to wake up than normal mice. However, when normal mice were given an extra shot of FGF21, they woke up twice as fast.
When drunk mice were given a dose of FGF21 hormone and placed on a slowly rotating platform, they were able to keep their balance for longer than their peers.