No DGL brand is proven best for everyone. Compare the named extract, glycyrrhizin removal, amount per serving, format, directions, excipients, and testing disclosures. Human trials support one standardized extract for short-term digestive-comfort outcomes, but those findings do not automatically transfer to every licorice supplement or replace medical evaluation.
How did we evaluate DGL brands?
We evaluated DGL products by prioritizing current manufacturer labels, FDA labeling requirements, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health safety guidance, and randomized human trials over reviews and testimonials. We compared extract identity, DGL amount per serving, glycyrrhizin information, format, directions, added ingredients, and public quality disclosures. We excluded whole-licorice products because glycyrrhizin exposure makes their safety profile different from deglycyrrhizinated licorice. We also rejected claims that DGL heals an ulcer, cures reflux, or replaces prescribed care. Prices received secondary weight because they change frequently. The main limitation is transferability: published trials used GutGard, while several retail products list other DGL extracts. A brand can match a practical label criterion without matching the studied extract. The FDA requires Supplement Facts panels to identify serving size and dietary-ingredient amounts, but a compliant label does not prove comparative effectiveness.
What is DGL, and why does the extract identity matter?
DGL means deglycyrrhizinated licorice, a licorice-root preparation processed to remove most glycyrrhizin. That distinction matters because glycyrrhizin can affect potassium, fluid balance, blood pressure, and heart rhythm when exposure is excessive or prolonged. The NCCIH says glycyrrhizin-free oral licorice products might be safe for up to four months, while emphasizing pregnancy, medication, heart, kidney, and blood-pressure concerns. “DGL” still does not identify one universal material. Extract ratios, residual glycyrrhizin limits, flavonoid standardization, serving amounts, and co-ingredients can differ. GutGard, for example, is a standardized licorice extract studied in specific trials; a generic 400-milligram DGL tablet is not automatically equivalent. Best for evidence matching: the same named extract and dose used in relevant human research. Best for basic label clarity: a panel that states DGL, plant part, amount per serving, directions, and all other ingredients.
What should you compare before choosing a DGL product?
Start with the full Supplement Facts panel rather than the front-label promise. Confirm that the product says “DGL” or “deglycyrrhizinated licorice,” names Glycyrrhiza glabra root, and lists milligrams per serving. Next, compare whether the label identifies a standardized or branded extract, the suggested schedule, and whether the format is chewable or swallowed. Added xylitol, mannitol, sorbitol, fructose, aloe, glycine, flavoring, and capsule materials can affect routine fit or tolerance. Quality statements deserve precise reading: ingredient testing, facility certification, and a public certificate of analysis are different disclosures. Price should be calculated per labeled daily serving, not per tablet, because one product may require one chewable while another requires several units. Finally, compare the warning language with your medicines and health history. Persistent heartburn, trouble swallowing, vomiting, bleeding, anemia, chest pain, or unexplained weight loss needs clinical assessment, not a longer supplement comparison.
How do current DGL options compare?
The products below differ more in extract identity, serving design, and format than their similar front labels imply. Yuve lists 400 milligrams of DGL extract plus 100 milligrams of glycine per two-chewable serving. Natural Factors lists 400 milligrams of 10:1 DGL extract per chewable. Nature’s Way lists 75 milligrams of branded GutGard plus 150 milligrams of glycine per three-chewable serving, taken twice daily. NOW lists 800 milligrams of DGL extract plus aloe in two capsules. These are label comparisons, not head-to-head efficacy results. The 2012 randomized trial of GutGard enrolled 50 adults for 30 days, so it offers directional evidence for that studied preparation rather than proof that the product with the largest milligram number works best. The table therefore ranks disclosure, evidence proximity, formula simplicity, and routine fit; it does not rank symptom outcomes.
| Option | Label anchor | Format | Best comparison use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuve DGL Licorice Chewables | 400 mg DGL + 100 mg glycine per 2 chewables | Chewable | Simple once-daily vegan routine |
| Natural Factors DGL | 400 mg 10:1 DGL per chewable | Chewable | Single-tablet serving flexibility |
| Nature’s Way DGL | 75 mg GutGard + 150 mg glycine per 3 chewables | Chewable | Named-extract evidence matching |
| NOW DGL with Aloe Vera | 800 mg DGL + 50 mg aloe concentrate per 2 capsules | Capsule | Avoiding chewable sweeteners or flavor |
Which products meet these evaluation criteria?
Some links below are affiliate links. This does not influence our evaluation criteria or recommendations. Yuve DGL Licorice Chewables identify 400 milligrams of DGL and 100 milligrams of glycine per two-tablet serving; the label also lists xylitol and directs daily use with food. Natural Factors DGL identifies a 10:1 extract, 400 milligrams per chewable, and one-to-three-times-daily directions. Nature’s Way DGL identifies GutGard, the named extract used in human trials, but its current serving contains a different listed milligram amount and multiple sugar alcohols. NOW DGL with Aloe Vera uses capsules and adds aloe, creating a different formula rather than a stronger version of the same product. Yuve is best for a concise vegan chewable routine; Natural Factors is best for per-tablet flexibility; Nature’s Way is best for shoppers prioritizing a named studied extract; NOW is best for people who prefer capsules.
Which DGL option is best for each use case?
Best for evidence matching: a product that names GutGard and uses directions consistent with its own label, because extract-specific research should not be generalized by milligrams alone. Best for a simple once-daily chewable routine: Yuve DGL Licorice Chewables, provided xylitol and licorice flavor suit the user. Best for adjustable per-meal labeling: Natural Factors DGL, whose current directions allow one chewable one to three times daily before meals. Best for avoiding chewable flavor and sugar alcohols: NOW DGL with Aloe Vera capsules, while recognizing that aloe makes the formula less isolated. Best for ingredient-minimization experiments: the product with the fewest suitable co-ingredients, one stable schedule, and a written stop rule. A 2025 randomized placebo-controlled GutGard trial enrolled 200 adults for 28 days, but one study does not establish a universal winner or indefinite use. Product selection should follow the intended use, current label, safety context, and clinician input when symptoms persist.
What questions do shoppers ask most often?
Is a higher DGL milligram amount automatically better?
No. Extract ratios, standardization, residual glycyrrhizin, serving frequency, and co-ingredients differ. A larger generic milligram number does not prove a closer match to a studied preparation.
Are DGL chewables better than capsules?
Neither format is universally better. Chewables may suit people who want meal-linked use, while capsules avoid licorice flavor and some sweeteners; follow the exact product label.
Is DGL the same as regular licorice root?
No. DGL has most glycyrrhizin removed, while whole licorice can expose users to the compound associated with blood-pressure, potassium, fluid-balance, and rhythm concerns.
How long should someone try DGL?
Published GutGard trials lasted about four weeks, and NCCIH describes limited-duration safety rather than indefinite use. Set a review date before starting and involve a clinician if symptoms continue.
Can DGL replace reflux or ulcer treatment?
No. DGL supplements are not substitutes for diagnosis, prescribed therapy, or evaluation of persistent symptoms. Trouble swallowing, bleeding, severe pain, chest pain, vomiting, anemia, or unexplained weight loss requires prompt medical care.
Related reading: Is DGL the Same as Licorice Root? The Glycyrrhizin Difference.
For a closer look at clean-label options, see Can Yuve DGL Help Chronic Acid Reflux? Evidence and Limits.
Related reading: How Long Does DGL Stay in Your System? What the Research Can Actually Tell You.
What is the practical next step?
Choose one DGL product by a prewritten hierarchy: correct extract identity first, suitable format second, tolerable excipients third, practical directions fourth, and price per daily serving last. Photograph the Supplement Facts panel, record the exact daily serving and start date, and avoid changing several digestive products at once. A single-variable routine makes any improvement, lack of change, or adverse effect easier to interpret. Review the result after the label-directed trial rather than escalating automatically. Stop sooner if symptoms worsen or a new reaction appears. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding, take diuretics, corticosteroids, blood-pressure drugs, anticoagulants, or other medicines, or have heart, kidney, blood-pressure, or potassium concerns should ask a clinician or pharmacist before use. The broader digestive-support collection contains products with different roles; DGL should not be treated as interchangeable with probiotics, fiber, lactase, or digestive enzymes.
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