DGL licorice is a specially processed form of licorice root with one key compound removed: glycyrrhizin, the substance responsible for licorice’s well-known side effects on blood pressure and potassium levels. The abbreviation stands for “deglycyrrhizinated licorice.” By stripping out glycyrrhizin, manufacturers create a supplement that retains licorice’s digestive benefits while dramatically reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems. It’s most commonly used for heartburn, acid reflux, and stomach irritation.
Why Glycyrrhizin Is Removed
Glycyrrhizin is the dominant active compound in whole licorice root, and it’s the reason licorice has a reputation as both a remedy and a risk. When your body breaks glycyrrhizin down, the resulting metabolites interfere with how your body processes cortisol and activate a receptor that mimics the hormone aldosterone. This creates a cascade of problems: your body holds onto sodium and water while flushing out potassium. The result can be high blood pressure, swelling, abnormal heart rhythms, lethargy, and in severe cases, heart failure or muscle paralysis.
DGL products are manufactured to contain extremely low levels of glycyrrhizin, typically less than 0.005% in standardized extracts. However, because supplements aren’t tightly regulated, the actual glycyrrhizin content can vary between brands depending on the extraction process. This is worth paying attention to if you’re comparing products.
How DGL Works in the Stomach
Unlike antacids or acid-blocking drugs, DGL doesn’t reduce stomach acid. Instead, it works on the stomach’s own defense system. Animal research has shown that DGL stimulates the growth and activity of mucus-producing cells in the stomach lining. It accelerates the differentiation of cells into glandular cells that produce mucus, and it increases both mucus formation and secretion. This thicker, more robust mucus layer acts as a buffer between your stomach wall and the acid inside it.
The practical effect is that your stomach still produces the acid it needs for digestion, but the lining is better protected from damage. This is a fundamentally different approach than suppressing acid production, which can interfere with nutrient absorption and digestion over the long term.
Evidence for Acid Reflux and Heartburn
The strongest recent clinical evidence comes from a phase III randomized, placebo-controlled trial testing a flavonoid-rich DGL extract (standardized to contain at least 3.5% of a key licorice flavonoid called glabridin). Participants took 75 mg twice daily for 28 days.
The results showed meaningful improvements across several reflux symptoms. Regurgitation improved as early as day 7 compared to placebo. Heartburn showed significant improvement by day 14, with the difference becoming even more pronounced by day 28. Participants also reported reduced stomach gurgling by day 7, less flatulence by day 28, and improvements in early satiety (that uncomfortable “full too fast” feeling). Overall symptom frequency, severity, and the distress symptoms caused all improved significantly by day 14 and continued improving through the end of the trial. Quality of life scores were also significantly better in the DGL group by day 28.
So while DGL isn’t an instant fix, most people in this trial noticed meaningful relief within two weeks.
What About Stomach Ulcers?
DGL’s reputation as an ulcer remedy is widespread in alternative health circles, but the clinical evidence is less convincing than many sources suggest. An older double-blind trial using 760 mg of DGL three times daily found no difference in ulcer healing compared to the control group, whether measured by change in ulcer area or complete healing.
That said, the mechanism DGL uses (boosting the stomach’s protective mucus layer) is theoretically relevant to ulcer prevention, even if it hasn’t been proven to heal existing ulcers. The distinction matters: protecting an intact stomach lining is a different task than repairing one that already has an open sore.
Chewable Tablets vs. Capsules
This is one of the more practical things to know about DGL. For digestive purposes, it appears that DGL needs to mix with saliva to be effective. DGL taken in capsule form has not been shown to work for healing peptic ulcers. Chewable tablets or wafers, which naturally require you to chew and mix the extract with saliva before swallowing, are the preferred form for stomach-related use.
If you’re shopping for DGL and see both capsules and chewable options on the shelf, the chewable form is the better choice for digestive complaints. Some people take DGL about 20 minutes before meals to give the mucus-stimulating effects time to kick in before food and acid production ramp up, though specific timing hasn’t been rigorously tested in trials.
Safety and Side Effects
The primary advantage of DGL over whole licorice is its safety profile. Because glycyrrhizin is the compound responsible for licorice’s blood pressure and potassium problems, removing it eliminates those risks. DGL is not associated with the adverse cardiovascular effects seen with regular licorice consumption and has been described as safe to use alongside antacids for digestive complaints.
That said, “deglycyrrhizinated” doesn’t always mean “glycyrrhizin-free.” Since supplement manufacturing isn’t standardized across the industry, some products may contain more residual glycyrrhizin than others. If you have high blood pressure, take diuretics, or have any condition sensitive to potassium or sodium balance, choosing a product from a manufacturer that tests and reports glycyrrhizin content gives you an extra layer of confidence. The best-standardized products keep glycyrrhizin below 0.005%, a level considered negligible for triggering side effects.
Who Typically Uses DGL
DGL is most popular among people dealing with frequent heartburn or mild gastroesophageal reflux who want an alternative to long-term acid-suppressing medications. It’s also used by people with general stomach sensitivity, recurring indigestion, or irritation from foods or stress. Because it works by supporting the stomach’s own protective mechanisms rather than altering acid levels, some people use it alongside other digestive approaches without the concern of compounding effects.
DGL is available as chewable tablets, wafers, powders, and capsules (though again, chewable forms are preferred for digestive use). It’s sold at most health food stores and widely available online, typically in the digestive health supplement section. Prices are generally modest compared to many specialty supplements.