The Formula
9 ingredients.
All the science.
Every compound in Pregame has a specific job, a clinical dose, and published research behind it. This is not a label — it's a brief from someone who read the studies.
Why 9 ingredients
A stack, not a single bet.
Some products bet everything on one compound — a megadose of DHM, done. Pregame's approach is different: 9 ingredients, each targeting a specific mechanism alcohol disrupts. DHM clears acetaldehyde. NAC restores glutathione. L-Theanine and Magnesium target the hangxiety pathway. Electrolytes address the headache at its root. No single ingredient can do all of that — the synergy is the formula.
DHM
Dihydromyricetin
DHM is extracted from the Japanese raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis) and is the most-researched compound in this category. It acts on GABA-A receptors to modulate alcohol's sedative effect, and upregulates the enzymes that break down acetaldehyde, alcohol's primary toxic metabolite.
Supports
Supports the liver enzymes that process acetaldehyde, the compound behind next-day head and stomach symptoms.
Shen et al., 2012 · Journal of Neuroscience
DHM significantly reduced alcohol intoxication and withdrawal symptoms in rodent models by modulating GABA-A receptor function and accelerating aldehyde dehydrogenase activity.
NAC
N-Acetyl Cysteine
NAC is the direct precursor to glutathione, your body's master antioxidant and primary defense against oxidative stress. Alcohol metabolism rapidly depletes glutathione stores, and without them, your cells take the brunt of alcohol's byproducts.
Supports
Boosts glutathione, the body's main antioxidant, which gets depleted when you drink.
Salamon et al., 2019 · Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
NAC supplementation increases cysteine availability for glutathione synthesis, supporting cellular antioxidant defenses during ethanol-induced oxidative stress.
Taurine
2-Aminoethanesulfonic Acid
Taurine is the most abundant free amino acid in animal tissue, and alcohol depletes it faster than almost anything else. It acts as an osmolyte, stabilizing cell membranes and regulating intracellular calcium, and plays a direct role in GABA signaling.
Supports
Supports cellular hydration and electrolyte balance in muscle and nerve cells.
Stipanuk, 2004 · Annual Review of Nutrition
Taurine's role as an osmoprotectant and modulator of intracellular calcium is well-established; alcohol-induced depletion is linked to cardiovascular and neurological dysregulation.
Milk Thistle
Silymarin Extract
Silymarin, the active flavonoid complex from milk thistle seed, has 2,000 years of documented use as a liver protectant and over 50 years of modern clinical study. It inhibits lipid peroxidation in hepatocytes (liver cells), stabilizes cell membranes against toxic assault, and promotes liver cell regeneration.
Supports
Protects liver cells from oxidative stress during alcohol metabolism.
Pradhan & Girish, 2006 · Indian Journal of Medical Research
Silymarin's hepatoprotective effects are mediated through antioxidant activity, membrane stabilization, and stimulation of liver cell regeneration, demonstrated in both animal models and human clinical trials.
Magnesium Glycinate
Bisglycinate Chelate
Alcohol's diuretic effect triggers renal magnesium excretion, and alcohol also impairs intestinal absorption. Magnesium is a cofactor in over 300 enzymatic reactions, including GABA synthesis and ATP energy production. The glycinate form is the most bioavailable, absorbed fast with no gastric distress.
Supports
Supports nerve and muscle function; magnesium depletes during alcohol consumption.
Romani, 2011 · Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Alcohol intake produces significant hypomagnesemia via increased urinary excretion and impaired intestinal absorption, with downstream effects on GABA signaling, energy metabolism, and cardiovascular function.
L-Theanine
γ-Glutamylethylamide
The amino acid behind the calm focus you get from green tea. L-Theanine increases alpha brain-wave activity, modulates GABA, dopamine, and serotonin neurotransmission, and directly blunts cortisol spikes. It does not cause sedation, it produces relaxed alertness.
Supports
Promotes calm focus; pairs with caffeine-free recovery.
Kimura et al., 2007 · Biological Psychology
L-Theanine at 200mg significantly reduced psychological and physiological stress responses in human subjects, including cortisol and salivary chromogranin A, markers of acute stress.
Vitamin C
Ascorbic Acid
Alcohol oxidation generates reactive oxygen species (free radicals) that damage cell membranes, proteins, and DNA. Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that directly neutralizes these radicals and regenerates oxidized vitamin E. It also pairs synergistically with glutathione (restored by NAC), amplifying total antioxidant capacity.
Supports
An antioxidant that may help neutralize free radicals generated by alcohol metabolism.
Chen et al., 1990 · Journal of the International Medical Research
Pre-treatment with Vitamin C significantly reduced peak blood alcohol concentration and the rate of acetaldehyde formation in healthy human subjects, suggesting enhanced oxidative metabolism.
B Vitamins
B1, B6, B12
Alcohol impairs B-vitamin absorption in the gut, increases urinary excretion, and depletes liver stores. B1 (thiamine) is critical for ATP energy production and neuroprotection. B6 is required for serotonin and dopamine synthesis. B12 supports neurological function and red blood cell formation.
Supports
Involved in energy metabolism and nervous system support; depleted by alcohol.
Laso et al., 2004 · Alcohol and Alcoholism
Chronic and acute alcohol intake significantly reduces circulating B1, B6, and B12 through impaired absorption, increased excretion, and direct hepatic depletion, contributing to cognitive and mood disturbances.
Electrolytes
Sodium + Potassium
Alcohol inhibits ADH (antidiuretic hormone), triggering the diuresis that keeps you visiting the bathroom. Every trip flushes sodium and potassium, the electrolytes that control cell membrane potential, nerve impulse transmission, and muscle contraction.
Supports
Replaces what alcohol-induced diuresis flushes out.
Penning et al., 2010 · Current Drug Abuse Reviews
Electrolyte disturbances, particularly hyponatremia and hypokalemia, are consistently observed in alcohol hangover and contribute significantly to headache, fatigue, and cognitive impairment.
Why they work together
These aren't nine independent ingredients — they're three interlocking systems.
Liver defense
DHM + Milk Thistle + Vitamin C form a hepatoprotective layer: DHM clears acetaldehyde, silymarin shields liver cells, and Vitamin C neutralizes the radicals both generate.
Antioxidant stack
NAC rebuilds glutathione, Vitamin C regenerates oxidized antioxidants, and B Vitamins fuel the enzymatic reactions that make the whole system run.
System stability
Taurine + Electrolytes keep cells hydrated and electrically balanced. Magnesium + L-Theanine modulate GABA for a calmer nervous system baseline, in and out.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Pregame is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Citations above reference published scientific literature and are provided for educational context only. Individual results vary.
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