Our Products

Empower yourself from the inside out

Our growing lineup of engineered probiotics is designed to enrich busy lives everywhere.

  • Pre-Alcohol

    Breaks down a toxic byproduct of alcohol called acetaldehyde while you drink and while you sleep — setting you up for a great next morning.

    The Science

    The world’s first genetically engineered probiotics: purpose-built to improve daily life.

    • Learn about Pre-Alcohol

      We start with a natural probiotic bacteria you already eat every day, called Bacillussubtilis. We then used a process naturally honed by bacteria to insert theinstructions for making ALDH into the bacteria's genome...

    • Learn about Sugar-to-Fiber

      Fiber plays an important role in our health but most of us aren't getting enoughfiber in our modern diets. We need 25-30 grams of fiber per day but about 95%of us don't meet that goal...

      The science behind

      Pre-Alcohol

      A probiotic that digests a byproduct of alcohol - built withgenetic engineering by a team of microbiologists.

        The Basics

        Alcohol produces acetaldehyde

        When we drink, our bodies break down alcohol into an unwanted byproduct called acetaldehyde.

        That byproduct is largely responsible for how we feel the day after drinking.

        Acetaldehyde builds up in the gut

        Acetaldehyde forms in two places: the liver and the gut. The liver produces an enzyme that removes it quickly. But the gut does not. So acetaldehyde builds up and lingers, filtering out into the rest of our body over time.

        Pre-Alcohol breaks it down

        Pre-Alcohol helps our gut catch up by temporarily adding a probiotic that can break down acetaldehyde.

        This probiotic – Bacillus subtilis ZB183™ – has been engineered to produce the same type of enzyme as our liver: one that digests acetaldehyde.

        Proudly built with genetic engineering

        The ZBiotics team invented the probiotic in Pre-Alcohol – Bacillus subtilis ZB183™ – using genetic engineering.

        Our approach to biotechnology is safety-first and grounded in the strictest ethical principles. We build responsibly or we don’t build at all.

          The Problem

          Acetaldehyde is an unwanted molecule that can build up in the body when drinking alcohol

          Here’s the problem. The body has many biological reactions to drinking alcohol, not all of which are pleasant. The metabolism of alcohol produces a variety of small molecules and cellular responses which, when piled-up, can be hard on your body and throw you off your healthy routine. One of those small molecules is acetaldehyde, an unwanted, toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism. Its chemical structure is highly reactive, which means it can interact with a whole host of molecular and cellular components throughout our bodies. But how does alcohol become acetaldehyde?

          • Analyzing engineeredBacillus subtilisunder the microscope.

            The liver can fully metabolize acetaldehyde, but the gut isn’t properly equipped to do the sameWhen you drink, most of the alcohol you consume gets digested in the liver using a two-step process (see diagram). Each step requires a different enzyme produce by your liver.

            1. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) converts ethanol into acetaldehyde by removing hydrogen atoms—a process called oxidation.
            2. Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) then further oxidizes acetaldehyde into acetate by adding an oxygen atom, producing a more stable and innocuous compound.

            However, some of the alcohol you drink never reaches your liver. Instead, it is metabolized in your gut, in large part by the microbes that reside there. Some microbes in the gut microbiome are equipped with the first enzyme, ADH, and can convert alcohol into acetaldehyde. But in contrast to your liver, they don’t make enough of the second enzyme, ALDH, to convert acetaldehyde into acetate. This is the major cause of acetaldehyde buildup in your body (Salaspuro, 1996).

            Thus arises a clear hypothesis: If we can equip the gut microbiome to break down acetaldehyde into acetate, we can support the body’s ability to minimize the buildup of this toxic byproduct. While the liver is fully capable of metabolizing acetaldehyde, the gut is not—and that gap makes this approach especially valuable for those planning to have a drink or two.

            The Solution

            Probiotics can be engineered to break down acetaldehyde in the gut

            If you’re trying to enable the gut microbiome to break down acetaldehyde, the most straightforward approach would be to make a bunch of the same enzyme your liver uses (ALDH) and deliver it to the gut, mimicking exactly what your body already does so effectively. Unfortunately, in this case (and most cases really) we can’t just eat an enzyme to equip our bodies with new traits. Enzymes are proteins, and most proteins you consume will break down very quickly as food in your stomach. Once broken down they lose their function.

            But our scientists knew three very interesting things: 

            1. There are probiotic bacteria that can survive the harsh environment of the stomach unharmed. 
            2. Many bacteria are capable of making ALDH – the very enzyme our livers use to break down acetaldehyde.
            3. We can use genetic engineering to create a probiotic bacteria with the ability to make ALDH!

            So rather than trying to solve the problem with an enzyme that won’t survive in the gut, we can instead use genetic engineering to build a probiotic bacteria that not only makes the enzyme but can also deliver it safely to where it's most needed to break down acetaldehyde!

            Though the actual building and testing behind our engineered ZB183™ strain took years, here is what we did on a basic level: We started with a natural probiotic bacteria called Bacillus subtilis. Humans have been intentionally consuming B. subtilis as a probiotic in supplements and fermented foods (e.g. natto, kombucha, etc.) for centuries. B. subtilis also has the natural ability to pass through your stomach acid unharmed and make enzymes in your gut (citation). We then used a process naturally honed by bacteria to insert the instructions for making ALDH into the bacteria’s genome, carefully selecting a location that optimizes the expression of this enzyme. The result was ZB183™ – a probiotic strain of B. subtilis that is identical in every way to the one humans already consume, but with one additional trait: the ability to break down acetaldehyde.

            Data & Validation

            Our engineered probiotic has been tested in the lab for safety and functionality

            Once ZB183™ was built, we needed to ensure that it was safe, and that it worked as intended.

            Safety

            We subjected ZB183™ to years of laboratory testing and review by America’s top food toxicologists, the results of which confirmed it to be completely safe and FDA-compliant. The data from these tests has been published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Toxicology.

            Now that we have confirmed our genetically engineered probiotic is safe and works as intended, we make sure this is true of every batch. Pre-Alcohol undergoes rigorous quality testing at every stage, from probiotic biomass to the final product, ensuring safety, purity, and efficacy. We transparently publish our standards for each test on our Quality page which can be found here.

            Functionality

            To confirm that ZB183™ worked as intended, we tested its ability to make ALDH and break down acetaldehyde. Over a series of laboratory tests where we compared it to the unedited B. subtilis strain, we confirmed that our Pre-Alcohol Probiotic was highly effective at producing ALDH. We also confirmed that while the control strain broke down almost no acetaldehyde, ZB183™ was able to break down more acetaldehyde than you could ever encounter when drinking. We published a paper containing the data from these tests, and it can be found in the peer-reviewed PLOS One journal..

            As scientists we appreciate that every body is different and so there are no silver bullets in biology. Even though we’ve proven that the product can reliably provide the function of helping to metabolize acetaldehyde, we don’t know for sure that it will be perceived as valuable for everyone. However, we do know from customer use data that it does appear to provide a benefit to the vast majority of users (i.e. >95%). And with millions of bottles sold, that’s a lot of happy customers!

            ZB183™ was our first proof of concept on a bigger journey to unlock the immense potential of safely and consciously-built genetically engineered microbes.

              Founded by Scientists

              Who are we? The very same people who did the research and built this technology: theZBiotics team. We pride ourselves on the fact that we are a team founded and led withscience at our core. Our technology is developed in-house by our own scientists in ourown microbiology lab. This integrated approach allows us to create the best productsavailable - products that marry cutting edge technology with innovative product design.
              Our founder, CEO, and inventor of the primary technology underlying Pre-Alcohol is Dr.Zack Abbott. Zack's background is as a microbiologist, he received his PhD inMicrobiology & lmmunology from the University of Michigan. After that, he workeddesigning clinical trials for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies prior to startingZBiotics to bring the idea of genetically engineered probiotics to the world.

                  Loved by thousands

                    Featured in

                      Lab Notes

                      • Exercising the Day After Drinking Alcohol

                      • Does ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol ProbioticWork for Every Body?

                        Product 

                        You probably have some questions

                        What is ZBiotics® Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Drink?

                        How does Pre-Alcohol work?

                        Pre-Alcohol is designed to replicate the natural process of your liver, but do it in your gut. We took a normal probiotic bacteria you already eat every day, and we bioengineered it to produce the same type of enzyme your liver produces (citation). That enzyme breaks down acetaldehyde – an unwanted byproduct of alcohol that accumulates in your gut when you drink.Your liver does not have access to your gut. But by drinking Pre-Alcohol, the goal is to augment your gut’s natural ability to digest acetaldehyde while you drink and while you sleep – helping you make the most of the next day. Just remember that Pre-Alcohol won’t affect intoxication or make alcohol safer to drink, so always drink responsibly.

                        When do l drink Pre-Alcohol?

                        The earlier the better. ldeally you drink Pre-Alcohol before your first drink.
                        The probiotic in Pre-Alcohol needs time to "wake up" in your gut, so we say the earlier the better if you canremember it. We drink Pre-Alcohol just before going out - right before our first drink., But it should be active ifyou drink it any time during the day or night. So whether it's a few hours before drinking or you've alreadyenjoyed a round or two, go for it. Pre-Alcohol can help from that point on.

                        How long does 1 bottle of Pre-Alcohol last after l drink it?

                        The probiotic in Pre-Alcohol is likely to stay in your body for 18-24 hours after you drink it. So one bottle willcover you for a whole day, even if you're starting with brunch mimosas followed by evening plans later on!

                        How do l drinkPre-Alcohol?

                        1. Drink 1 bottle of Pre-Alcohol.
                        2. Enjoy your night.
                        3. Get some sleep.
                        Drink Pre-Alcohol before or during drinking - the earlier the better. Just give it a shake and drink the wholething. The probiotics are designed to become active while you drink and while you sleep, helping your bodydigest acetaldehyde as they're passing through your gut. Then they simply leave your body after a day or twowithout changing your body or impacting your microbiome. A happier, healthier you, thanks to ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol.

                        What's the dark stuff at the bottom of the bottle?

                        It's the good stuff.
                        lt's just the natural sedimentation of the probiotic and the flavoring that happens if the bottle is left resting fora while. Just give it a couple shakes to re-suspend and you're good to go.

                        Is Pre-Alcohol flavored? What is its consistency?

                        The flavor is a bit tart with minimal aftertaste (like lemon water).
                        The texture is just like water. The probiotic should make the liquid slightly cloudy unless it settles in the bottleSo give it a shake and watch all the ingredients mix together before drinking.

                        What is acetaldehyde?

                        Acetaldehyde (pronounced “asset" + “AL" + “duh" + “hide") is a chemical we most often experience as abyproduct of alcohol metabolism. lt's linked to lots of unwanted effects on our bodies, but most commonly it'sassociated with the rough feelings you get the day after drinking.
                        When we drink, our bodies break down alcohol in 2 steps.
                        1. From ethanol to acetaldehyde.
                        2.From acetaldehyde to acetate (essentially vinegar).
                        The first reaction (ethanol to acetaldehyde) moves quickly, but the second reaction (acetaldehyde to acetateis less efficient, particularly in the gut. That's because your gut has drastically lower amounts of theacetaldehyde-digesting enzyme. So when we drink, acetaldehyde tends to build up in the qut, which is badnews, because normal responsible drinking habits like hydrating and eating are unlikely to increase yourbody's ability to digest acetaldehyde. So you're probably going to feel it. Good news, ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol is here to help

                        How should l store Pre-Alcohol?

                        Does it need to be refrigerated?
                        Room temperature. No refrigeration needed.
                        Store Pre-Alcohol at room temperature with the cap on. Do not refrigerate. Tiy not to open it until you're readyto drink it; opening it could potentially let contaminants from the air into the bottle.

                        What if l drink Pre-Alcohol the morning after drinking?

                        It probably won't do anything.
                        Pre-Alcohol won't do much if consumed substantially after a round of drinking. Pre-Alcohol's key ingredient -the probiotic that breaks down acetaldehvde - needs time to "wake up" in vour qut and become active. That'swhy we make Pre-Alcohol our first drink of the night.

                        Does Pre-Alcohol expire?

                        Pre-Alcohol expires 18 months after bottling. We aim to deliver products to you that still have at least 12months of shelf-life left. Check the “BB" (Best-By) date on your bottle or box.
                        Store Pre-Alcohol at room temperature with the cap on. Do not refrigerate. Do not open it until you're ready todrink it; opening it could potentially let contaminants from the air into the bottle.

                        thought alcohol causes dehydration?

                        Interestingly, there is really good science that clearly debunks the persistent myth that alcohol causesdehydration, and that dehydration is responsible for how you feel the next day. Alcohol does not significantlydehydrate you, and there are many academic studies confirming this over the past several decades (citation)We did a write-up about alcohol and dehydration (with citations) we recommend reading
                        In general though, you can do a simple thought experiment to prove to yourself that any rough feelings youhave the day after drinking have nothing to do with dehydration: 1. lf how you felt the next day really was due todehydration, then a glass or two of water the next day would make you feel 100% again, which we all knowfrom experience is not at all the case! 2. Things that DO cause dehydration (e.g. eating salty foods, workingout) don't make you feel ANYTHING like the way we feel the day after drinking alcohol!
                        Instead, there are quite a few other things going on in your body when you drink. Here's a great review of thescientific literature on the subject. Acetaldehyde is a key factor, and one requiring an enzymatic approach todeal with. This is why we built 7Biotics Pre-Alcohol: a probiotic enaineered to produce the same tvpe ofenzyme as your liver to break down acetaldehyde.

                        How does acetaldehyde make me feel?

                        There are hundreds of papers demonstrating the unwanted effects of acetaldehyde. Here is one that shows adirect comparison of acetaldehyde to ethanol. Here is another on the impact of acetaldehyde on DNA. Andhere is a summary of studies published by the EU regarding the safety (or lack thereof of acetaldehyde.
                        How Will Pre-Alcohol make me feel?
                        Pre-Alcohol is designed to break down acetaldehyde, which is responsible for some of the worst feelings youget when you drink.* lt is not designed to break down alcohol, which causes some of the more minor effects. inparticular, alcohol itself affects the quality of your sleep, but you can usually take care of that with somebreakfast and coffee. lf you're interested, here are 7 of our tips to feel better the day after drinking alcohol.
                        *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is notintended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.