--- source_url: https://hangovr180.com/science/formula/how-they-work-together.md canonical_url: https://hangovr180.com/science/formula/how-they-work-together generated_at: 2026-06-28T19:53:17Z build_id: ebfcfef page_type: science-leaf claim_ids: [SF-21, SF-11, SF-10] --- # HOW THE THREE INGREDIENTS WORK TOGETHER *DHM works upstream on enzyme induction, SAG works downstream on antioxidant restoration, and fulvic acid bridges both by helping each one cross cellular membranes -- the combination is more than the sum of three independent ingredients.* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. ## The Cascade Is the Map Alcohol metabolism in the liver is not a single reaction. It is a cascade with multiple stages, and each stage has its own intervention point. The ADH/ALDH oxidation chain converts ethanol to acetaldehyde to acetate. The conversion produces NADH that destabilizes mitochondrial redox balance and generates reactive oxygen species. The ROS deplete the cell's glutathione pool. The depleted GSH leaves the cell less able to neutralize the next round of ROS [4]. Each stage matters, and each stage has a corresponding intervention point that a formula could target. H180 targets three of those intervention points at once. (this is the part of the formula explanation that I think is the most useful framing, because the upstream-downstream-delivery picture maps cleanly to what each ingredient is actually doing.) ## DHM at the Top: Upstream Enzyme Induction > **Claim [SF-21]:** Acts by promoting aldehyde and alcohol metabolism of foods. † > > † These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. DHM at 1,500mg per serving acts at the upstream end of the cascade. The 2012 UCLA paper from Shen and colleagues showed DHM induces ADH1 and ALDH2 expression in rat liver, helps restore the NAD+ cofactor that ethanol metabolism depletes, and reduces serum ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations after alcohol challenge [1]. Faster acetaldehyde clearance means smaller integrated acetaldehyde exposure and less ROS generated downstream. For the full DHM mechanism, see [How DHM Works -- The ADH/ALDH Pathway](/science/dhm/adh-aldh-pathway). ## SAG at the Bottom: Downstream Antioxidant Restoration > **Claim [SF-11]:** Elevates glutathione, the body's master antioxidant in the liver. † > > † These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. SAG at 75mg per serving acts at the downstream end of the cascade. Glutathione is the cell's primary intracellular antioxidant and is concentrated in the liver more than in any other tissue. Mitochondrial GSH in particular is critical because that is where most ROS production happens during alcohol metabolism [2]. SAG delivers intact glutathione across the gut wall and into liver cells, restoring the GSH pool that ethanol metabolism depletes. The cysteine-plus-glutathione co-administration data in mice supports the broader principle of pairing a precursor or delivery form of GSH with a metabolic intervention [5]. The cascade-coverage logic is consistent with the published animal data on each ingredient and with the cysteine-plus-glutathione co-administration work, in the available evidence at least. For the ROS cascade SAG addresses, see [ROS and Oxidative Stress](/science/sag/ros-oxidative-stress). ## Fulvic Acid as the Bridge: Cellular Delivery > **Claim [SF-10]:** Energize your cells with improved mitochondrial function. † > > † These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Fulvic acid at 150mg (90 percent purity) is the connector that makes the upstream and downstream interventions actually reach their targets. The chelation chemistry that fulvic acid uses to bind metal ions in soil is the same chemistry it uses to bind small organic molecules and improve their transport across cell membranes [3]. For DHM specifically, where the native bioavailability is around 4 percent, this delivery assist is what closes the gap between "labeled dose" and "delivered dose." For the chelation mechanism in detail, see [DHM and Fulvic Acid -- The Delivery Mechanism](/science/dhm/dhm-fulvic-synergy). ## The Patent Note The pairing of these three ingredients in this specific architecture is covered in our patent. Patent applications use clinical terminology appropriate for USPTO filings. The consumer marketing language for Hangovr180® follows separate FDA regulations for dietary supplements under DSHEA -- which is why what you read on the label sounds different from what you read in the patent. ## Why the Combination Outperforms Components Pulling on the cascade at three points is more effective than pulling at any one point with greater force. Doubling DHM does not produce twice the effect, because DHM cannot do the antioxidant restoration job that SAG does. Doubling SAG does not produce twice the effect, because SAG cannot accelerate acetaldehyde clearance the way DHM does. Any one of the three ingredients on its own would be a partial intervention adn would underdeliver the combined cascade-coverage effect. For the dose math behind the 1,500mg DHM number specifically, see [Why 1,500mg DHM -- The Dose Logic](/science/formula/why-1500mg-dhm). ## Citations 1. [Dihydromyricetin As a Novel Anti-Alcohol Intoxication Medication](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3292407/). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2. [Mitochondrial Glutathione, a Key Survival Antioxidant](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2821140/). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 3. [Therapeutic Potential of Fulvic Acid in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Diabetes](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6151376/). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 4. [Alcohol, Oxidative Stress, and Free Radical Damage](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6668865/). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 5. [Combination of Cysteine and Glutathione Prevents Ethanol-Induced Hangover and Liver Damage by Modulation of Nrf2 Signaling](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10604027/). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. ## Read Next - [How DHM Works -- The ADH/ALDH Pathway](/science/dhm/adh-aldh-pathway) - [ROS and Oxidative Stress](/science/sag/ros-oxidative-stress) - [DHM and Fulvic Acid -- The Delivery Mechanism](/science/dhm/dhm-fulvic-synergy) - [The Formula -- The Hub](/science/formula) **Written by Mark Scott** - Co-Formulator, Hangovr180® | Co-Inventor, [US Application 18/698,010](https://patents.google.com/patent/US20250073201A1) Mark Scott conducted approximately 150 personal formulation tests over six months to develop the H180 ingredient combination. [Editorial standards](/editorial-standards) --- These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Hangovr180® is a dietary supplement. Individual results may vary. Consult your healthcare provider before use if you have any medical conditions or take medications. [US Application 18/698,010](https://patents.google.com/patent/US20250073201A1). Canonical: https://hangovr180.com/science/formula/how-they-work-together