DHM: what it is and how it works

Dihydromyricetin, usually shortened to DHM, is a naturally occurring plant flavonoid. Flavonoids are compounds found across fruits, vegetables and other plants. DHM has a long history of use through plant sources such as vine tea, and it is now used as an ingredient in food supplements.

Morning Mate includes DHM as one part of a 26-ingredient formula. It is not a shortcut that makes alcohol harmless. Its role is to sit alongside vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanical extracts selected to support the body's normal recovery processes.

DHM does not have one proven mechanism in people. Researchers are studying several possibilities.

In a 2012 study using rats and isolated cells, DHM interacted with signalling involving GABA-A receptors. These receptors help regulate inhibitory signals in the brain and are also affected by alcohol. The finding is scientifically interesting, but an animal and cell study cannot establish the same effect or a next-morning benefit in people. Read the Journal of Neuroscience study.

Other preclinical work has explored oxidative stress and liver-related pathways. A 2020 study found that DHM reduced reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in rat liver cells, but did not increase the rate at which the rats metabolised alcohol. That distinction matters. Read the study in Physiological Research.

Researchers have also reported low oral bioavailability in animal models. In simple terms, swallowing an amount of DHM does not mean all of it reaches the bloodstream or target tissues. Read the 2021 mouse pharmacokinetic study.

Preclinical research has examined intoxication-related behaviour, oxidative stress, inflammation and liver pathways. These are research directions, not benefits proven in humans.

For consumers, the honest answer is that human evidence for DHM after alcohol remains limited. There is no good evidence that DHM sobers someone up, lowers blood alcohol concentration or makes it safe to drive. It should never be used to decide whether you can drink more or drive sooner.

Morning Mate provides 600 mg of DHM per daily serving, using material standardised to 98 percent. It is included because the preclinical evidence makes DHM relevant to the recovery pathways the formula is designed around.

That does not turn early research into a product-specific result. Morning Mate has not been clinically shown to prevent a hangover or produce a particular outcome in every person. The formula is designed to support your routine before bed, alongside water, food, sleep and responsible choices around alcohol.

Most alcohol-related DHM research has been carried out in cells or animals. Animal studies can help researchers understand possible mechanisms and decide what to test next. They cannot prove that a food supplement has the same effect in people.

A 2026 systematic review brought together 22 DHM studies. Most of the evidence was preclinical. The 2 small human studies used Hovenia dulcis extracts rather than isolated DHM, so they do not establish a clinical benefit for DHM itself. Read the systematic review in Nutrients.

The useful conclusion is measured. DHM is a promising ingredient for further research, with plausible mechanisms that are still being investigated. It is not a treatment, a shield against alcohol or a replacement for moderation.

Shen Y, Lindemeyer AK, Gonzalez C, et al. Dihydromyricetin as a novel anti-alcohol intoxication medication. Journal of Neuroscience. 2012;32(1):390-401. Animal and cell research. View publication.

Skotnicová A, Boubínová G, Boštíková Z, et al. Does dihydromyricetin impact on alcohol metabolism. Physiological Research. 2020;69(Suppl 4):S573-S581. Rat and cell research. View publication.

Carry E, Solberg LI, Grillo MP, et al. Identification of Dihydromyricetin and Metabolites in Serum and Brain Associated with Acute Anti-Ethanol Intoxicating Effects in Mice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021;22(14):7460. Mouse research. View publication.

Roberts E, Smith R, Hotopf M, Drummond C. The efficacy and tolerability of pharmacologically active interventions for alcohol-induced hangover symptomatology. Addiction. 2022;117(8):2157-2167. Systematic review. View publication.

Skinner SG, Matcha S, Davies DL. Therapeutic Effects of Dihydromyricetin on Wholly Alcohol-Attributed Conditions: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2026;18(14):2221. Systematic review of preclinical and limited extract-based human evidence. View publication.