Beyond DHM: How Zinc, the B-Complex and Vitamin C Support the Body's Own Alcohol-Metabolising Enzymes in CHEERS!
TL;DR:
- DHM is the headline ingredient in CHEERS!, but the formula also supplies the nutrients your body's own alcohol-processing enzymes actually rely on.
- The body clears alcohol in two enzyme steps - alcohol dehydrogenase (a zinc-containing enzyme) and aldehyde dehydrogenase - and both run on the coenzyme NAD+, which the B-complex helps supply.
- CHEERS! rounds this out with 500mg vitamin C plus turmeric and Blue Ginseng for antioxidant support, so the formula works on a different front from DHM rather than duplicating it.
Most articles about CHEERS! focus on DHM, and for good reason. But DHM is only part of the gummy. Look at the rest of the label and a second, quieter story appears: zinc, a B-complex, 500mg of vitamin C, turmeric and Blue Ginseng. These are not filler. They map onto the specific enzymes and antioxidant defences your body uses to process alcohol on its own. This article looks past DHM at that cofactor chemistry.
Table of Contents
- How the body handles alcohol, in two enzyme steps
- Why zinc matters to the first enzyme
- The NAD+ and B-complex link
- Vitamin C and antioxidant support
- Turmeric and Blue Ginseng
- How this differs from the DHM story
- CHEERS! vs a DHM-only product
- Discover CHEERS! with BioEssentials
- Frequently asked questions
- Recommended reading
- Scientific References
Key Takeaways
| Ingredient | What it supports |
|---|---|
| Zinc | Alcohol dehydrogenase is a zinc-containing enzyme, so zinc status is part of the picture. |
| B-complex | Supports the NAD+ coenzyme pool that both clearance enzymes depend on. |
| Vitamin C 500mg | Antioxidant support against the oxidative stress alcohol generates. |
| Turmeric & Blue Ginseng | Botanical antioxidants studied in the context of alcohol metabolism. |
| DHM | Works on a separate front, so the cofactors complement rather than repeat it. |
How the body handles alcohol, in two enzyme steps
Your body has a built-in route for processing alcohol, and it runs in two enzymatic stages. First, the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase converts ethanol into acetaldehyde; then aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) converts that acetaldehyde into acetate, a harmless molecule the body can use for energy. Researchers describe this as a coordinated system of alcohol dehydrogenase classes and ALDH2 working with an NADH re-oxidation system. The intermediate, acetaldehyde, is the reactive one - which is exactly why the second step, and the antioxidant defences around it, matter so much.
A biochemistry review of how the liver handles alcohol sets out the same two-step logic and highlights that both enzymes need the coenzyme NAD+ to function. That single fact is the thread that connects several of the supporting ingredients in CHEERS! to the body's own machinery.
Why zinc matters to the first enzyme
Alcohol dehydrogenase is not just any protein - it is a zinc metalloenzyme. Each working unit of the enzyme holds zinc atoms that are essential to its structure and its catalytic site, a feature it shares with a broad family of zinc-dependent dehydrogenases. In plain terms, the enzyme that takes the very first step on alcohol cannot do its job without zinc in place.
That is why zinc appears in CHEERS! rather than being left out as an afterthought. Nutritional research has also linked adequate zinc status to a protective effect in the context of alcohol, reinforcing the idea that this mineral belongs in a formula built around social wellness. CHEERS! supplies zinc alongside the B-complex so the first enzyme's cofactor is covered.
The NAD+ and B-complex link
If zinc is the metal at the heart of the first enzyme, NAD+ is the shared currency of both. Every time alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase do their work, they hand electrons to NAD+, turning it into NADH. The cell then has to regenerate NAD+ to keep the line moving. NAD+ is built from niacin, one of the B-vitamins, which is why a B-complex is a logical partner for the alcohol-clearing enzymes rather than a generic add-on.
CHEERS! includes a B-complex precisely because these vitamins underpin the coenzyme pool and the wider energy metabolism that the two enzymes draw on. It is a small detail on the label that turns out to sit right at the centre of the chemistry.
Vitamin C and antioxidant support
The reason the second enzyme step matters so much is that acetaldehyde is reactive and contributes to oxidative stress. A 2025 review of alcohol-induced oxidative stress describes how this process places demand on the body's antioxidant systems. Vitamin C is a front-line, water-soluble antioxidant, and CHEERS! supplies a generous 500mg of it - the single largest active dose in the formula.
This is the antioxidant-support rationale: while the enzymes do the converting, vitamin C contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress, an officially recognised role for the vitamin. It is support for the environment in which those enzymes operate, not a claim about the enzymes themselves.
Turmeric and Blue Ginseng
CHEERS! finishes the formula with two botanicals. Turmeric provides curcumin, a compound that has been studied for antioxidant effects in the context of alcohol and the liver. Blue Ginseng (a Panax ginseng extract, 120mg) is the second; ginseng preparations have been investigated for their effect on acetaldehyde clearance. Both are included for antioxidant and metabolic support, layered on top of the vitamin C.
Taken together, the supporting cast of CHEERS! is not random. Zinc sits in the first enzyme, the B-complex feeds the shared coenzyme, and vitamin C, turmeric and ginseng shore up the antioxidant side - a coherent design around the body's own pathway.
How this differs from the DHM story
DHM (dihydromyricetin) is the ingredient CHEERS! is best known for, and most of our other articles explore it in depth. The point of this article is that the cofactors work on a different front. DHM is studied for its own distinct actions; zinc, the B-complex and vitamin C instead support the enzymes and antioxidant defences the body already uses. Because they act through separate mechanisms, they complement DHM rather than duplicating it - which is the whole idea behind a multi-ingredient gummy instead of a single-compound tablet.
CHEERS! vs a DHM-only product
Plenty of products on the shelf are simply DHM and nothing else. The table below shows what a fuller, cofactor-aware formula adds.
| Feature | BioEssentials CHEERS! | Generic DHM-only product |
|---|---|---|
| Includes DHM | β | β |
| Supplies zinc, cofactor of the first clearance enzyme | β | β |
| Adds a B-complex to support the NAD+ coenzyme pool | β | β |
| Provides 500mg vitamin C for antioxidant support | β | β |
| Includes turmeric and Blue Ginseng botanicals | β | β |
| Portable, no-water gummy format | β | Varies |
Discover CHEERS! with BioEssentials
If you like the idea of a social-wellness gummy that supports your body's own alcohol-processing chemistry rather than relying on a single compound, explore BioEssentials CHEERS!. Each pack pairs DHM with Blue Ginseng 120mg, Vitamin C 500mg, turmeric and a B-complex with zinc, in a portable no-water gummy made in France and Eurofins tested.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CHEERS! a medicine?
No. CHEERS! is a food supplement intended to support general wellness around social occasions. It is not intended to diagnose, support, support, or prevent any condition, and it is not a substitute for drinking responsibly.
Why does CHEERS! contain zinc and a B-complex?
The enzyme that takes the first step on alcohol, alcohol dehydrogenase, is a zinc-containing enzyme, and both clearance enzymes use the coenzyme NAD+, which is built from niacin in the B-complex. These nutrients support the body's own enzymatic pathway.
What is the vitamin C for?
Processing alcohol generates oxidative stress, and vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. CHEERS! supplies 500mg, the largest active dose in the formula.
Do the cofactors replace DHM?
No. DHM works on its own separate front. Zinc, the B-complex and vitamin C support the body's enzymes and antioxidant defences, so they complement DHM rather than replacing it.
Is CHEERS! suitable for vegans?
Yes. CHEERS! gummies are formulated to be vegan, Non-GMO, gluten-free and Eurofins tested, with the doses disclosed on the label rather than hidden in a proprietary blend.
Recommended Reading
- How CHEERS! DHM gummies work: chewable delivery science
- CHEERS!: DHM gummies for an active social life
- RESTORE capsules vs CHEERS! gummies: which format is right for you?
- Choosing the best recovery gummy with DHM: a buyer's guide
- Why DHM powers premium next-day recovery formulas
Scientific References
- Haseba T. Enzymatic Control of Alcohol Metabolism in the Body: the Roles of Class I-IV Alcohol Dehydrogenases, the NADH Re-oxidation System and ALDH2. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2025) (PubMed)
- Joernvall H, et al. Superfamilies SDR and MDR: emergence of a Zn-metalloenzyme and distinct variabilities. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (2010) (PubMed)
- Cioarca-Nedelcu R, et al. Alcoholic liver disease - from steatosis to cirrhosis: a biochemistry approach. Journal of Medicine and Life (2021) (PubMed)
- Zhong W, et al. Preventing gut leakiness and endotoxemia contributes to the protective effect of zinc on alcohol-induced steatohepatitis in rats. The Journal of Nutrition (2015) (PubMed)
- Lee JY, et al. Alcohol-induced oxidative stress and gut-liver-brain crosstalk. Antioxidants (2025) (PubMed)
- Khoshakhlagh M, et al. Protective effects of curcumin against alcoholic fatty liver. Current Medicinal Chemistry (2025) (PubMed)
- Wang YN, et al. Ginseng powder protects against alcohol-induced liver injury by promoting acetaldehyde clearance. Journal of Ginseng Research (2025) (PubMed)
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. BioEssentials products are food supplements intended to support general wellness and daily nutritional needs. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please drink responsibly. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or managing a health condition.
