--- source_url: https://hangovr180.com/science/formula/three-ingredients.md canonical_url: https://hangovr180.com/science/formula/three-ingredients generated_at: 2026-06-28T19:53:17Z build_id: ebfcfef page_type: science-leaf claim_ids: [SF-21, SF-01, SF-02] --- # THREE INGREDIENTS: WHY ONLY THREE *A short ingredient list is not a marketing choice -- it is what is left after a structured elimination protocol cut everything that did not measurably contribute to the morning-after data.* 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 Industry Norm Most alcohol-recovery supplements on the retail shelf list eight to fifteen ingredients per serving. Some go higher. The marketing logic is straightforward: a longer label looks more thorough, each additional ingredient adds a marketing bullet, and consumers tend to associate ingredient count with formula sophistication. The 2005 systematic review of hangover-prevention RCTs concluded that across this category, none of those longer formulas have produced reliable clinical evidence of effect [1]. Length and effectiveness do not correlate. ## Why Three Was the Right Number for Us The H180 starting candidate list during testing was 12 ingredients drawn from the published alcohol-recovery and liver-protection literature. Through structured elimination across 150 self-tests, nine of those candidates produced no measurable difference in the morning-after symptom score and were cut. The three that remained -- DHM, SAG, fulvic acid -- carry the formula. The three remaining ingredients carry the formula in our self-test data, in the n=1 protocol at least. (adding a fourth or fifth ingredient was tempting from a marketing standpoint and I had to talk myself out of it more than once.) ## What Each Ingredient Brings > **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 is the upstream metabolic intervention. The 2012 UCLA paper showed DHM induces ADH and ALDH in rat liver and accelerates clearance of ethanol and acetaldehyde [2]. The 1,500mg dose is sized to overcome DHM's poor native bioavailability. > **Claim [SF-01]:** Helps you feel fresh. † > > † 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 is the downstream antioxidant restoration. The crossover study comparing oral GSH delivery formats demonstrated meaningfully different intracellular GSH outcomes by delivery format, and SAG is the form that actually crosses the gut wall intact [3]. > **Claim [SF-02]:** Supports overall liver health. † > > † 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 cellular delivery agent. The chelation chemistry described in the broader fulvic acid literature is what helps DHM and SAG cross gut and cellular membranes more reliably than they would on their own [4]. ## The Dose Budget Argument The strongest argument for keeping the ingredient list short is dose budget. Every milligram of an additional ingredient is a milligram you cannot spend on the ingredients that are actually doing the work. For DHM specifically, where the threshold for measurable enzyme effect sits at the high end of what is economically practical, every additional ingredient on a label dilutes teh dose budget for the ingredients that actually matter. ## What This Page Is Not Claiming We are not claiming three ingredients is universally the right number for every supplement. Some categories benefit from longer ingredient lists with synergistic interactions. For the alcohol-recovery use case specifically, with the dose constraints DHM imposes and the elimination data from the testing protocol, three is what landed. For the elimination protocol that produced the cuts, see [The Elimination Story](/science/formula/elimination-story). For the integrated story of how the three remaining ingredients work together, see [How the Three Ingredients Work Together](/science/formula/how-they-work-together). ## Citations 1. [Interventions for Preventing or Treating Alcohol Hangover -- Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1322250/). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2. [Dihydromyricetin As a Novel Anti-Alcohol Intoxication Medication](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3292407/). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 3. [Effects of N-Acetylcysteine, Oral Glutathione and a Novel Sublingual GSH on Oxidative Stress Markers](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4536296/). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 4. [Therapeutic Potential of Fulvic Acid in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Diabetes](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6151376/). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. ## Read Next - [The Formula -- The Hub](/science/formula) - [The Elimination Story](/science/formula/elimination-story) - [What Got Cut and Why](/science/testing/what-got-cut) - [How the Three Ingredients Work Together](/science/formula/how-they-work-together) **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/three-ingredients