Why Pregame Works: The 11 Ingredients in Every Shot
Every Pregame shot contains 11 active, fully-disclosed ingredients. Here is exactly what each one does and why it is in there.
The Fully Transparent Formula
Most functional supplement shots list a "proprietary blend" on the label. That is shorthand for: we will not tell you what is actually in here. Pregame is different. Every milligram is disclosed. Every ingredient has a job. Here is the full breakdown.
1. Dihydromyricetin (DHM): 300mg
DHM is a flavonoid extracted from the Japanese raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis), used in East Asian traditional medicine for centuries. Modern research, including peer-reviewed work out of UCLA, has found that DHM supports the body's clearance of acetaldehyde: the toxic byproduct produced when your liver metabolises alcohol. Acetaldehyde is implicated in the headache, nausea, and fatigue that follow a night out. At 300mg, this is the highest clinically-referenced dose on the UK market and the anchor of everything else in the formula.
2. N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC): 250mg
NAC is a precursor to glutathione, the body's primary antioxidant. Alcohol metabolism significantly depletes glutathione levels. NAC supplies the raw material your body needs to keep antioxidant defences running during a night out. It is one of the most studied compounds for this specific mechanism.
3. Milk Thistle Extract (Silymarin): 150mg
Silymarin is the active compound in milk thistle, a well-studied antioxidant used in both traditional European herbal medicine and modern clinical settings. In Pregame, it works alongside NAC as a second line of antioxidant support, particularly relevant during the metabolic demand of processing alcohol.
4. Prickly Pear Extract: 200mg
Prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) is one of the more interesting inclusions. A randomised controlled trial published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that prickly pear extract reduced specific next-morning symptoms, particularly nausea and dry mouth, when taken before drinking. Its anti-inflammatory properties are the mechanism behind that finding.
5. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): 50mg
Thiamine is critical for carbohydrate metabolism and neurological function. Alcohol actively impairs B1 absorption and accelerates its excretion. At 50mg, this is a robust repletion dose. Thiamine contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and normal psychological function.
6. Vitamin B6: 25mg
B6 plays a central role in amino acid metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis. Like B1, it is depleted by regular alcohol consumption. B6 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and to normal psychological function: both directly relevant when your body has spent the night processing a big night out.
7. Vitamin B12: 500mcg
B12 supports normal red blood cell formation and energy metabolism. Alcohol interferes with B12 absorption in the gut. A high-dose 500mcg inclusion ensures full repletion even against impaired uptake. B12 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
8. Sodium: 120mg
Alcohol is a diuretic. You excrete more fluid and more electrolytes than you take in. Sodium is the primary extracellular electrolyte, governing fluid balance and nerve signalling. The 120mg in each Pregame shot is calibrated to replace a meaningful portion of what a moderate night out flushes out.
9. Potassium: 150mg
The intracellular counterpart to sodium, potassium is lost in proportion to urine output. Muscle function, nerve transmission, and the general feeling of being drained the morning after are all tied to potassium balance. Potassium contributes to normal muscle function and electrolyte balance.
10. Magnesium: 60mg
Magnesium supports over 300 enzymatic processes in the body, including those involved in energy production and protein synthesis. Alcohol is a known magnesium depleter. Magnesium contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and normal psychological function.
11. Vitamin C: 100mg
Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that rounds out the antioxidant stack alongside NAC and silymarin. It also contributes to the regeneration of vitamin E, extending the effectiveness of the overall formula. Vitamin C contributes to normal functioning of the immune system.
Four Pathways, One Shot
Put it together and Pregame addresses four distinct physiological processes at once. Acetaldehyde clearance via DHM. Antioxidant support via NAC, silymarin, and vitamin C. B-vitamin repletion via B1, B6, and B12. Electrolyte restoration via sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Prickly pear adds anti-inflammatory cover across all of them.
This is not a proprietary blend. This is not a grab-bag of wellness buzzwords. These are precise doses targeting specific mechanisms, formulated for the person who drinks and wants to start tomorrow right.
If you have been searching for what to take before drinking, a science-backed alcohol recovery supplement, or the best hangover prevention ingredients available in the UK, this is the complete answer: 11 ingredients, fully disclosed, in one 10ml shot.
Join the Pregame Waitlist
Pregame is launching in the UK. The waitlist is open now at drinkpregame.app. Be first in line when we ship.