Food & Cooking 3 min read

DGL licorice and your gut: what the research shows

Chewable DGL tablets in a small dish beside a licorice root piece.

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice, DGL, exists specifically because regular licorice root causes real problems at meaningful doses, and the "de" in DGL is the whole story of why this supplement is formulated the way it is.

Why the glycyrrhizin gets removed in the first place

Whole licorice root contains glycyrrhizin, a compound with aldosterone-like effects that can cause fluid retention, high blood pressure, and dangerously low potassium at meaningful doses or with prolonged use.[1] DGL removes most of this compound specifically to eliminate that risk while, according to the research, preserving the flavonoids believed responsible for licorice's effect on the stomach lining, a mechanism related to how slippery elm and marshmallow root coat irritated tissue.

What one of the stronger trials found

Ulcer size reduction, DGL78%
Ulcer size reduction, placebo34%
Complete healing, DGL44%
Complete healing, placebo6%

In this randomized controlled trial, 33 patients with diagnosed gastric ulcers took DGL or a placebo for one month, with the difference measured directly via follow-up endoscopy, not self-reported symptoms.[2] A separate randomized trial testing DGL against H. pylori specifically found 56 percent of the DGL group tested negative for the infection after 30 days, compared to 4 percent on placebo.[3]

What DGL does, and what it doesn't do

Shows measurable ulcer-healing effects in multiple randomized trials, comparable in one study to a standard acid-blocking medication for gastric ulcers.
Shows antimicrobial activity against H. pylori in both lab and human studies, a bacterium also linked to elevated stomach cancer risk.
Doesn't eliminate glycyrrhizin entirely. "Deglycyrrhizinated" doesn't mean zero, some commercial products still carry trace amounts.
Doesn't work the same in every form. Chewable tablets that mix with saliva appear to activate the mucosal-support mechanism, while some research suggests swallowed capsules may bypass this step.
Doesn't have a large, modern evidence base. Most of the strongest positive trials are decades old with small sample sizes, and newer, larger trials haven't followed up at the same scale.

What to do with this

Even with glycyrrhizin mostly removed, people with high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart failure, or those taking diuretics or corticosteroids should discuss DGL with a doctor before using it, since trace glycyrrhizin combined with an existing condition or interacting medication is a real, documented risk.[1] For most other people, DGL has one of the more substantive evidence bases among the herbal digestive supplements covered in this content, even if the trials underpinning it are older than would be ideal, and chewable forms taken before meals are what the research most directly supports.

Sources:
  1. "Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Supplement: Stomach Relief, Ulcer Healing, and Safety Explained." VitaLibrary
  2. "Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL) in Promoting Gastric Mucosal Health." CASI
  3. "Peptic Ulcers Overview." Life Extension

Related reading
Share this article

Read next

Inasal-style chicken skewers grilling over glowing charcoal How cooking over wood fire vs. gas affects the gut health of what you eat
Carenderia glass counter display with trays of Filipino dishes and rice How eating out in carenderias compares to home-cooked meals for gut health Carenderia meals run higher in oil and sodium for batch holding, but vegetable-forward ulam still delivers diversity. Dish... Bottles of patis and toyo with small condiment dishes Fish sauce vs. soy sauce: which condiment is easier on your gut Patis and toyo are both fermented and sodium-dense. Portion size matters more than picking one as healthier; neither... Tall glass of halo-halo with visible layers of ube, beans, saba, and leche flan What halo-halo does to your gut: sugar load, fiber, and fermented ingredients compared Ube and saba bring anthocyanins and resistant starch; syrup and sweet beans drive the sugar load. Less syrup...