Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL)

Supplements · Digestive Health · Supplement, Typed Supps

A processed form of licorice root that keeps the digestive-soothing compounds while removing the ingredient responsible for licorice’s classic blood pressure risk.

Stage by stage

Intake (Chewable tablet or capsule): Typically chewed before meals so it mixes with saliva.
Stomach (Local contact): Coats and interacts locally with the stomach lining.
Upper intestine (Local action): Continues to act locally on the duodenal lining; minimal systemic absorption.
Digestive mucosa (Mucosal support): Supports mucus production and mucosal blood flow, the basis for symptom relief.

What the evidence supports

Relieving functional dyspepsia symptoms — moderate evidence. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of a standardized DGL-adjacent licorice extract (GutGard, 75mg twice daily for 30 days) found significant improvement in dyspepsia symptom scores versus placebo.
Supporting healing of peptic or duodenal ulcers as an adjunct to standard treatment — limited evidence. Older, smaller trials found DGL comparable to H2-blocker drugs for duodenal ulcer healing, but other controlled trials in gastric ulcer populations didn't consistently show a healing advantage over placebo — the evidence is mixed enough to call it limited rather than established.
Evidence on Avoiding the blood-pressure and potassium-wasting effects of whole licorice — moderate evidence. Because DGL is specifically processed to remove glycyrrhizin, the compound responsible for licorice's pseudoaldosterone-like blood pressure effects, properly manufactured DGL products don't carry the same documented hypertension risk as whole licorice root or glycyrrhizin-containing licorice candy. Product quality varies, though, and trace glycyrrhizin can remain if processing is incomplete.

Typical dose

Standardized extracts like GutGard have been studied at 75mg twice daily; classic chewable DGL products are typically dosed as two to four 380mg tablets before meals and at bedtime.

Upper limit: No established UL for DGL specifically.

Timing

Chew before meals and at bedtime for the classic tablet form.

Time to effect

Weeks: Dyspepsia symptom improvement has been measured within 2 weeks, continuing through 30 days in the available trial.

Common myth

“DGL carries the same blood pressure risk as regular licorice.” In reality: DGL is specifically processed to remove glycyrrhizin, the compound responsible for licorice’s documented blood-pressure and potassium-wasting effects — properly manufactured DGL does not carry that same well-established risk, though product quality and testing rigor vary.