DGL for Acid Reflux and LPR: Does Licorice Root Help?

Short answer: DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) does have real evidence behind it for acid reflux, and it’s one of the better-studied natural options you’ll come across. A 2025 randomised trial found it improved reflux symptoms and quality of life versus placebo, and it has a long track record for soothing the gut.

But I want to set expectations honestly, because I’ve spent more than eight years managing my own silent reflux. DGL doesn’t lower stomach acid the way a PPI does. It works by protecting and soothing the lining of your gut, which is a genuinely useful thing, but a different thing. And for LPR specifically, there are no direct trials yet, so its use in throat reflux is based on how it works rather than head-to-head data.

Let me walk you through what DGL actually is, what the research shows, and where I think it realistically fits.

Key Takeaways

• DGL is licorice root with the compound glycyrrhizin removed, which strips out the ingredient responsible for licorice’s blood pressure and potassium risks.
• It works by protecting the mucosal lining, boosting mucus and supporting tissue repair, not by suppressing acid.
• A 2025 randomised placebo-controlled trial found a standardised DGL extract improved reflux symptoms and quality of life over 28 days.
• DGL also has solid evidence in functional dyspepsia and stomach ulcers.
• There are currently no direct LPR trials; its use for silent reflux is extrapolated from its mucosal-protective action.
• It’s best viewed as a soothing adjunct alongside diet and lifestyle, not a replacement for medical treatment.
• DGL is generally very safe. The safety warnings you see about licorice apply to regular licorice, not the deglycyrrhizinated form.

What Is DGL (Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice)?

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has been used for digestive complaints for centuries. The problem is that ordinary licorice contains a compound called glycyrrhizin, and taken regularly in any real quantity, glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure, cause your body to retain water, and lower potassium levels. That’s not a minor footnote, it’s a genuine safety issue.

DGL is the clever workaround. It’s licorice with most of the glycyrrhizin removed, which keeps the beneficial flavonoids while stripping out the compound that causes trouble [Efficacy and Safety of GutGard, Complementary Medicine Research, 2025]. That’s why you’ll see it sold specifically as “DGL” in chewable tablets rather than as ordinary licorice sweets or tea. It gives you the soothing benefits without the pseudoaldosterone-style side effects.

How DGL Works for Reflux (Mechanism Before Advice)

This is the part that changes how you should think about DGL, so stick with me.

Most reflux treatments you know work by reducing acid. PPIs shut down acid production, H2 blockers dial it back, and antacids neutralise what’s already there. DGL does none of that. Instead, it strengthens your gut’s own defences.

DGL appears to increase mucus production, boost the number of mucus-secreting cells, and support the renewal of the cells lining the stomach and esophagus [Glycyrrhiza glabra pharmacological review, 2020]. In plain terms, it helps lay down a thicker, more resilient protective layer over irritated tissue. Think of it less like turning off a tap and more like putting a soothing barrier over a sore patch so it can heal.

That mechanism is exactly why DGL is interesting for reflux sufferers. If your tissue is inflamed and raw from repeated acid exposure, something that helps it repair and protects it from further irritation has obvious appeal. It’s a similar logic to other soothing, coating remedies I’ve written about, like aloe vera juice and manuka honey.

Does DGL Work for Acid Reflux and GERD?

For reflux and related upper-gut conditions, DGL has a better evidence base than most natural remedies.

The most relevant study is a 2025 phase III randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 200 adults with reflux symptoms. Participants took a standardised DGL extract twice daily for 28 days, and the DGL group reported significantly better reflux-related quality of life than placebo, with the extract being well tolerated and no serious adverse events [Efficacy and Safety of GutGard, Complementary Medicine Research, 2025]. That’s a proper trial with validated reflux scoring, which is rare in the natural-remedy world.

DGL also holds up in neighbouring conditions. In a randomised placebo-controlled trial in functional dyspepsia (that uncomfortable, indigestion-type upper-gut discomfort), a standardised licorice extract significantly reduced symptom scores over 30 days compared with placebo [Raveendra et al., Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012]. And going further back, DGL has decades of research as an anti-ulcer agent, which is where its mucosal-healing reputation originally came from [Glycyrrhiza glabra pharmacological review, 2020].

So for classic acid reflux and general upper-gut irritation, DGL is a reasonable, evidence-supported option to try. It sits comfortably in the broader toolkit I cover in my guide to natural remedies for LPR.

Does DGL Help LPR and Silent Reflux?

Here’s where I have to be straight with you, because this is exactly the kind of gap most articles paper over.

There are currently no clinical trials testing DGL specifically for LPR. The reflux research above is about classic GERD, dyspepsia, and ulcers, where the problem sits in the stomach and esophagus. LPR is different: the damage happens higher up, in the delicate tissues of your throat and voice box.

So any claim that DGL “treats LPR” is an extrapolation. It’s a reasonable one, because the mucosal-protective, tissue-soothing mechanism should in theory help irritated throat tissue too. Plenty of people with silent reflux, myself included, find soothing, coating remedies helpful for calming that raw, irritated feeling. But “biologically plausible and anecdotally helpful” is not the same as “proven,” and I’d rather you know the difference.

There’s also a limitation worth understanding. A big driver of LPR damage is pepsin, an enzyme that travels up with reflux and lodges in your throat tissue, where it can be reactivated by acid. DGL soothes and protects, but it doesn’t neutralise or remove pepsin, and it doesn’t address non-acid reflux either. I explain that mechanism in detail in my article on how to neutralise pepsin in the throat. This is why DGL is best thought of as one supportive piece, not a standalone LPR fix.

DGL vs PPIs and Antacids: They Do Different Jobs

People often ask whether DGL can replace their reflux medication. The honest answer is that they’re not really competing, because they tackle different parts of the problem.

A PPI reduces the acid. DGL protects the lining. An alginate like Gaviscon Advance forms a physical raft to block reflux mechanically. You can see how these could complement rather than replace each other. In practice, I see DGL used most sensibly as a soothing adjunct, something you add for tissue comfort and repair while the heavy lifting on acid or reflux mechanics is handled elsewhere.

Where DGL becomes especially interesting is if you’re trying to reduce or come off long-term acid suppression. Coming off PPIs can trigger rebound acid, and a soothing, protective agent can be a helpful support during that transition, though it should be done carefully. I walk through the whole process in getting off PPIs and acid rebound.

How to Take DGL

DGL is usually sold as chewable tablets, and there’s a logic to that format. The idea is that mixing it with saliva helps it coat the tissues on the way down, so most people chew it rather than swallow it whole.

Typical practical use looks like this: chew a tablet around 20 minutes before meals, and often again before bed if night-time symptoms are your main issue. Doses vary a lot between products, and clinical trials have used specific standardised extracts at their own dosages, so the sensible move is to follow the label on your chosen product and start conservatively.

One tip from my own experience: introduce it on its own for a week or two before stacking it with other new things, so you can actually judge whether it’s helping. That one-variable-at-a-time approach saves a lot of guesswork.

Side Effects and Safety

This is where the deglycyrrhizinated part really matters, so let me make it crisp.

The scary licorice warnings you’ve probably read, raised blood pressure, water retention, low potassium, are about glycyrrhizin, the compound found in ordinary licorice, licorice sweets, and licorice tea. Because DGL has most of that removed, it sidesteps those risks and is generally very well tolerated, with trials reporting no serious adverse events [Efficacy and Safety of GutGard, Complementary Medicine Research, 2025].

That said, a few sensible cautions apply. Check the label to confirm you’re buying genuine DGL, not regular licorice extract. If you have high blood pressure, kidney issues, heart problems, low potassium, or you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or you take blood pressure or heart medications, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, because product quality and residual glycyrrhizin content can vary. DGL is a supplement, and supplements aren’t regulated as tightly as medicines, so brand quality genuinely matters here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DGL better than regular licorice for reflux?

For regular use, yes. DGL gives you licorice’s soothing, mucosal-protective benefits without the glycyrrhizin that can raise blood pressure and lower potassium. Ordinary licorice taken regularly for reflux is a poor idea for exactly that reason.

How long does DGL take to work?

Some people notice soothing relief fairly quickly, but the trial benefits built over a couple of weeks, with meaningful improvement by around the two-week mark and beyond. I’d give it a fair, consistent trial of a few weeks before judging it.

Can DGL cure LPR or silent reflux?

No. There’s no evidence DGL cures LPR, and there are no LPR-specific trials at all. At best it’s a soothing, supportive addition that may help irritated tissue feel more comfortable while you address the actual drivers through diet and lifestyle.

Can I take DGL with my PPI or with Gaviscon?

They work by different mechanisms, so many people use them together, with DGL as the soothing layer. As with any combination, it’s worth a quick check with your pharmacist, especially if you take other medications.

Do I still need to change my diet if I take DGL?

Yes. DGL protects and soothes, but it doesn’t stop reflux from happening or address the foods and habits driving it. It works best as part of a proper low-acid, pepsin-aware approach, not instead of one.

The Bottom Line

DGL is one of the more credible natural options for reflux, and I don’t say that about many supplements. It has a genuine mechanism, decades of use for ulcers and indigestion, and now a modern randomised trial showing it can improve reflux symptoms and quality of life. If you want a soothing, mucosal-protective addition to your routine, it’s a reasonable and low-risk one to try, provided you buy a proper deglycyrrhizinated product.

But keep your expectations grounded. DGL doesn’t lower acid, it doesn’t remove pepsin from your throat, and it hasn’t been tested for LPR specifically. It’s a supportive player, not the whole team. The people I’ve seen do best use something like DGL to soothe while they fix the real drivers of reflux: what they eat, when they eat it, and how they live. If you want to understand that bigger picture, my complete guide to LPR is the place to start.

And when you’re ready to actually calm reflux at the source, that’s what the Wipeout Diet is built for. It’s my in-depth, step-by-step plan for settling acid reflux and LPR, and it goes far deeper into the whole approach than any single remedy can. For a quick, practical starting point, grab the Wipeout Food Reference Guide, an essential reference covering the foods and drinks that are safe for acid reflux and LPR along with their pH values. Pair a sensible remedy like DGL with the right food choices, and you give your throat and gut a real chance to settle and heal.

Research and References

• Efficacy and Safety of GutGard, Complementary Medicine Research, 2025 — A phase III, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 200 adults found a standardised deglycyrrhizinated licorice extract improved reflux-related symptoms and quality of life over 28 days, with good tolerability and no serious adverse events.
• Raveendra et al., Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012 — A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial showing a standardised licorice extract significantly reduced functional dyspepsia symptom scores and the Nepean Dyspepsia Index over 30 days versus placebo.
• Glycyrrhiza glabra pharmacological review, 2020 — A review summarising licorice’s gastrointestinal actions, including how DGL supports mucus production, mucosal cell renewal, and its established anti-ulcer effects.