DGL for Leaky Gut: Gut Inflammation & Mucosal Support

Category : Leaky Gut

DGL for Leaky Gut: Gut Inflammation, Mucosal Support and Intestinal Repair

If you are looking for DGL for leaky gut, the most important thing to understand is that DGL supports more than just the stomach.

DGL—short for deglycyrrhizinated licorice—is best known for supporting the protective mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal tract, but licorice-derived compounds may also influence gut inflammation, mucus production, tight-junction proteins, secretory IgA, and intestinal-barrier integrity.

This makes DGL especially useful in a broader leaky-gut strategy because the intestinal barrier is not made up of tight junctions alone.

It also depends on:

The mucus layer
Intestinal epithelial cells
Tight-junction proteins
Secretory IgA
Beneficial gut bacteria
Short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate
Immune cells within the intestinal mucosa

Supporting these different layers can help create an intestinal environment that is better able to protect, maintain, and repair the gut lining.

If you are new to this topic, start with my guide on How to Heal Leaky Gut for a broader explanation of intestinal-barrier repair.

What Is DGL?

DGL stands for deglycyrrhizinated licorice.

It is made from licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) that has been processed to remove most of a compound called glycyrrhizin.

Why remove glycyrrhizin?

Whole licorice root can cause problems when consumed in significant amounts or for prolonged periods because glycyrrhizin can influence cortisol metabolism and mineral balance.

In susceptible individuals, excessive glycyrrhizin exposure may contribute to:

Increased blood pressure
Sodium and water retention
Low potassium
Fluid retention
Changes in cardiovascular function

DGL retains many of the naturally occurring flavonoids and other plant compounds found in licorice while greatly reducing glycyrrhizin.

This makes DGL particularly useful when the goal is to support the gastrointestinal mucosa, stomach lining, and intestinal barrier.

Is DGL Good for Leaky Gut?

DGL can be a useful part of a comprehensive leaky-gut support program, particularly because of its effects on the gastrointestinal mucosal lining.

Research suggests several mechanisms through which licorice-derived flavonoids may help support intestinal-barrier function.

These include:

Supporting the protective mucus layer
Protecting gastrointestinal epithelial cells
Influencing inflammatory signaling
Supporting tight-junction proteins
Supporting secretory IgA
Helping maintain intestinal-barrier integrity

Research using flavonoid-rich Glycyrrhiza glabra extracts has demonstrated improvements in intestinal-barrier integrity and regulation of tight-junction proteins.

Researchers have also observed effects involving inflammatory markers, permeability, secretory IgA, and proteins involved in maintaining the intestinal barrier.

This provides a strong biological rationale for why DGL and licorice-derived flavonoids may be useful for supporting the gut lining and intestinal barrier.

If you want to understand the broader nutritional strategy, see my guide to the Best Supplements for Leaky Gut.

How Does DGL Help the Gut Lining?

One of DGL’s best-known properties is its ability to support the mucosal defenses of the gastrointestinal tract.

Think of the mucus layer as one of the first protective shields separating the contents of the digestive tract from the intestinal epithelial cells.

This mucus layer helps protect intestinal tissue from:

Stomach acid
Digestive enzymes
Food particles
Microorganisms
Bacterial metabolites
Environmental irritants

When this protective environment becomes compromised, the underlying epithelial cells may become more vulnerable to irritation and inflammatory signaling.

DGL has traditionally been used to support this protective mucosal surface.

That becomes particularly relevant when discussing leaky gut because healing the intestinal barrier requires a multi-pronged approach

The mucus layer, epithelial cells, immune system, microbiome, and tight junctions all work together.

Read: What Causes Leaky Gut

DGL, Tight Junctions and Intestinal Permeability

Tight junctions are specialized protein structures that connect neighboring intestinal epithelial cells.

Important tight-junction-associated proteins include:

Occludin
Claudins
Zonula occludens proteins such as ZO-1

These structures function somewhat like adjustable gates.

They help regulate what moves between intestinal cells and what remains inside the digestive tract.

When intestinal inflammation, infections, medications, alcohol, dietary factors, microbial imbalances, or other stressors disrupt tight-junction regulation, intestinal permeability may increase.

This is what is commonly referred to as leaky gut.

Research investigating flavonoid-rich extracts of Glycyrrhiza glabra has shown support for intestinal epithelial-barrier integrity and regulation of tight-junction proteins.

Researchers have also observed improvements in markers related to inflammation and mucosal immune defense.

These findings suggest that licorice-derived flavonoids may influence several pathways involved in maintaining normal intestinal permeability and a healthier gut barrier.

If you are unsure whether intestinal permeability is actually present, see my guide on How to Test for Leaky Gut.

DGL and the Mucus Barrier in Leaky Gut

One concept I emphasize throughout this leaky-gut series is that:

The intestinal barrier is more than tight junctions.

Sitting on top of the intestinal epithelial cells is a protective mucus layer.

This mucus barrier helps physically separate intestinal microorganisms and their metabolic products from the intestinal wall.

Mucus also provides an environment in which:

Secretory IgA can function
Antimicrobial compounds can operate
Beneficial bacteria can interact with the host
Epithelial tissue can remain protected

For someone trying to support the intestinal barrier, protecting this mucosal environment can be just as important as supporting tight-junction proteins.

This is one reason DGL is often combined with nutrients such as:

L-glutamine
N-acetyl glucosamine
Zinc
Vitamin A
Aloe vera

These nutrients work through different mechanisms but share a common goal:

supporting a healthier gastrointestinal barrier.

For more on supporting the mucus layer specifically, see N-Acetyl Glucosamine for Leaky Gut.

If you have been having trouble healing your leaky gut, check out this article, “Leaky Gut Not Healing? Follow These 7 Tips To Heal Your Gut“

DGL for Gut Inflammation

DGL may be particularly useful when leaky gut occurs alongside gut inflammation.

Inflammatory signaling can directly affect intestinal epithelial cells and the proteins that regulate permeability between them.

Cytokines such as TNF-alpha can influence tight-junction proteins, increase epithelial stress, and contribute to greater intestinal permeability.

As barrier function becomes compromised, bacterial components and other substances within the intestinal tract may interact more readily with the intestinal immune system.

This can create a self-reinforcing cycle:

Gut inflammation → barrier disruption → increased immune exposure → additional inflammation

Research involving licorice-derived compounds suggests they can influence several inflammatory pathways.

Flavonoid-rich licorice extracts have been shown experimentally to reduce inflammatory signaling while improving markers associated with intestinal-barrier integrity.

This creates an important connection between DGL, gut inflammation, and leaky gut.

Supporting a healthier inflammatory response within the intestinal mucosa may help create a better environment for normal barrier maintenance and repair.

If chronic inflammation is being driven by diet, medications, microbial imbalance, opportunistic bacteria, or another underlying trigger, identifying the cause is equally important. See What Causes Leaky Gut for a deeper explanation.

DGL and Secretory IgA

Another interesting connection between licorice compounds and gut-barrier health involves secretory IgA, sometimes abbreviated SIgA.

Secretory IgA is one of the intestinal immune system’s most important first-line defense mechanisms.

It helps:

Bind microorganisms
Interact with food antigens
Support immune tolerance
Limit microbial attachment to the intestinal lining
Maintain a healthier relationship between the microbiome and immune system

Research involving flavonoid-rich licorice extracts has demonstrated improvements in secretory IgA along with improvements in intestinal-barrier function.

This reinforces an important principle:

Leaky gut is not solely a tight-junction problem.

Changes in SIgA, mucus production, microbial balance, and inflammation can all influence intestinal-barrier health.

For a deeper explanation of this part of the immune barrier, see Secretory IgA and Leaky Gut.

DGL for the Stomach and Upper GI Tract

DGL has historically been best known for supporting the stomach and upper gastrointestinal tract.

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice preparations have been studied in people with digestive complaints including:

Functional dyspepsia
Heartburn
Reflux symptoms
Upper abdominal discomfort
Gastric irritation

This is relevant because the gastrointestinal barrier extends beyond the intestines.

The stomach and upper digestive tract also depend on an intact mucosal-defense system to protect tissue from digestive acids, enzymes, and inflammatory stress.

Supporting this mucosal environment can therefore be an important part of a broader gastrointestinal-repair strategy.

Why I Use DGL as Part of a Leaky Gut Protocol

When I work with intestinal-barrier problems, I rarely want to depend on a single ingredient.

There are multiple layers to the intestinal barrier, and those layers require different nutrients.

Nutrient	Primary Gut-Barrier Role
L-glutamine	Provides fuel for intestinal epithelial cells
DGL	Supports and protects the gastrointestinal mucosal surface
N-acetyl glucosamine	Supports mucus and glycoprotein production
Zinc	Supports epithelial repair and tight-junction integrity
Vitamin A	Supports epithelial differentiation, mucosal immunity, and barrier integrity
Butyrate	Fuels colon cells and supports mucus and tight-junction regulation
Omega-3 fatty acids	Support healthy inflammatory signaling

This is the rationale behind using a combination of nutrients rather than expecting one supplement to address every component of intestinal-barrier dysfunction.

You can see this broader strategy in my Leaky Gut Support Pack, which was designed to support multiple layers of the intestinal barrier rather than relying on a single nutrient.

For a deeper discussion of the individual nutrients commonly used for intestinal-barrier support, see my Best Supplements for Leaky Gut guide.

GlutaShield Contains DGL for Gut-Lining Support

One product I frequently use when supporting the intestinal lining is GlutaShield.

GlutaShield provides 400 mg of deglycyrrhizinated licorice root extract per scoop.

What makes GlutaShield particularly useful is that DGL is not working by itself.

The formula combines DGL with several other nutrients involved in supporting the gastrointestinal barrier, including:

4 grams L-glutamine
500 mg N-acetyl-D-glucosamine
400 mg DGL
600 mcg vitamin A
10 mg zinc
75 mg aloe vera extract

Each ingredient supports a different aspect of the gut lining.

L-glutamine provides fuel for intestinal epithelial cells.

N-acetyl glucosamine provides building blocks involved in mucus and glycoprotein production.

Zinc supports epithelial repair and tight-junction integrity.

Vitamin A supports normal epithelial differentiation, mucosal immune function, and intestinal-barrier health.

DGL supports the protective gastrointestinal mucosal surface.

And aloe vera provides additional soothing support for the gastrointestinal lining.

This is closer to how I think about gut-barrier repair clinically:

Support the entire mucosal environment rather than focusing on one isolated pathway.

For people looking for a more complete intestinal-barrier strategy rather than a single product, see the Leaky Gut Support Pack.

What Other Supplements Work With DGL for Leaky Gut?

DGL is usually most useful as part of a broader intestinal-barrier strategy because different nutrients support different components of the gut lining.

L-glutamine provides fuel for intestinal epithelial cells and supports tight-junction regulation.

Zinc and zinc carnosine support epithelial repair and intestinal-barrier integrity.

Vitamin A supports epithelial differentiation, mucus production, mucosal immunity, and normal barrier function.

N-acetyl glucosamine provides building blocks involved in mucus and glycoprotein production.

Butyrate fuels colon cells and supports tight-junction proteins, mucus production, and healthy inflammatory signaling.

Omega-3 fatty acids help regulate inflammatory pathways that can influence the intestinal barrier.

These nutrients work through complementary mechanisms, which is why a multi-nutrient strategy may make more sense than relying on a single ingredient.

For a complete discussion of these nutrients, see my Best Supplements for Leaky Gut guide.

My Leaky Gut Support Pack was also designed around this multi-layer approach to intestinal-barrier support.

Why You Still Need to Address the Cause of Leaky Gut

Supporting the intestinal lining is important, but it is equally important to identify what is continually damaging the barrier.

Potential contributors to increased intestinal permeability can include:

Chronic NSAID use, like Ibuprofen, Excedrin, Aspirin, and Aleve
Excessive alcohol consumption
Low dietary fiber
Gastrointestinal infections
SIBO
Microbiome imbalances
Chronic intestinal inflammation
Gluten in susceptible individuals
Chronic psychological or physiological stress
Poor digestive function
Nutrient deficiencies

For example, someone with SIBO may experience ongoing microbial fermentation, inflammatory signaling, and altered intestinal function.

DGL can help support the mucosal environment, but the SIBO itself still needs to be addressed.

The same principle applies to frequent NSAID use, excessive alcohol, chronic stress, dysbiosis, or significant dietary triggers.

Chronic psychological and physiological stress can also influence mast cells, inflammatory signaling, the microbiome, motility, and intestinal-barrier regulation.

Diet matters as well. Low fiber intake can reduce microbial production of barrier-supportive compounds such as butyrate.

Gluten may also contribute to intestinal-barrier dysfunction in susceptible individuals.

A more complete approach is:

Reduce what is damaging the intestinal barrier while simultaneously providing the nutrients needed to support repair.

For a complete review of the major contributors, I wrote this article: What Causes Leaky Gut?

DGL vs Regular Licorice Root

DGL and regular licorice root should not be treated as the same supplement.

Regular licorice contains glycyrrhizin.

When consumed in sufficient amounts, glycyrrhizin can alter mineral and hormone metabolism and potentially contribute to:

Elevated blood pressure
Potassium depletion
Sodium retention
Fluid retention

DGL has most of the glycyrrhizin removed.

This allows greater emphasis on the licorice flavonoids and gastrointestinal effects while significantly reducing exposure to the compound responsible for many of regular licorice root’s systemic effects.

This is one reason DGL is generally the preferred form of licorice when the primary goal is gastrointestinal mucosal support.

Frequently Asked Questions About DGL and Leaky Gut

Does DGL Help Leaky Gut?

DGL can help support the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier, which is an important component of intestinal-barrier health.

Research involving licorice-derived flavonoids suggests benefits related to:

Mucosal protection
Tight-junction regulation
Secretory IgA
Inflammatory signaling
Intestinal epithelial integrity

For this reason, DGL can be a useful nutrient within a comprehensive leaky-gut support program.

Is DGL Good for Gut Inflammation?

DGL and licorice-derived flavonoids may help support a healthy inflammatory response within the gastrointestinal tract.

This can be important because inflammatory signaling can influence intestinal epithelial cells, tight-junction proteins, and intestinal permeability.

For people with both gut inflammation and leaky gut, DGL may therefore provide support for both the mucosal surface and inflammatory pathways affecting the intestinal barrier.

What Does DGL Do for the Gut Lining?

DGL primarily supports the protective mucosal surface of the gastrointestinal tract.

Licorice-derived flavonoids may also help influence:

Inflammatory signaling
Epithelial integrity
Tight-junction regulation
Mucosal immune defenses

These actions can help create an intestinal environment that is more supportive of normal barrier function and repair.

Can DGL Help Heal the Intestinal Lining?

DGL supports several of the protective mechanisms involved in maintaining and repairing the gastrointestinal lining.

It is particularly useful for supporting the mucus layer and gastrointestinal mucosa, while other nutrients such as glutamine, zinc, vitamin A, and N-acetyl glucosamine provide complementary support for intestinal epithelial cells and barrier integrity.

What Are the Best Supplements for a Leaky Gut?

The best supplements for leaky gut depend on which parts of the intestinal barrier need support and what is contributing to increased permeability.

Common nutrients include:

L-glutamine
Zinc
Zinc carnosine
DGL
Vitamin A
N-acetyl glucosamine
Butyrate
Omega-3 fatty acids

For a complete breakdown, see my Best Supplements for Leaky Gut guide.

You can also learn more about my Leaky Gut Support Pack, which was designed to support multiple aspects of intestinal-barrier health.

Is DGL the Same as Licorice Root?

No.

DGL stands for deglycyrrhizinated licorice, meaning most of the glycyrrhizin has been removed.

Removing glycyrrhizin significantly reduces the compound responsible for many of the blood-pressure, potassium, and fluid-retention effects associated with regular licorice root.

Does DGL Help Protect the Stomach Lining?

Yes. DGL is commonly used to support the protective mucosal defenses of the stomach and upper gastrointestinal tract.

This is one of the reasons DGL has historically been used for digestive complaints involving gastric irritation, reflux, heartburn, and upper abdominal discomfort.

Does DGL Increase Mucus?

DGL is commonly used to support the protective mucosal defenses of the gastrointestinal tract.

A healthy mucus layer helps create a protective interface between intestinal contents and the epithelial cells that make up the gut lining.

This mucus layer is an important but frequently overlooked component of intestinal-barrier health.

Does GlutaShield Contain DGL?

Yes.

GlutaShield contains 400 mg of deglycyrrhizinated licorice root extract per scoop.

It also combines DGL with:

L-glutamine
N-acetyl glucosamine
Vitamin A
Zinc
Aloe vera

This combination provides broader nutritional support for the gastrointestinal lining and intestinal barrier.

Can I Take DGL With L-Glutamine?

DGL and L-glutamine have complementary roles in gut-barrier support.

L-glutamine serves as an important fuel source for intestinal epithelial cells.

DGL primarily supports the protective gastrointestinal mucosal surface.

This is why these two nutrients are frequently combined in comprehensive gut-support formulas such as GlutaShield.

Is DGL Good for the Intestinal Barrier?

DGL and licorice-derived flavonoids can support several components of the intestinal barrier, including:

The mucosal surface
Epithelial cells
Healthy inflammatory regulation
Tight-junction proteins
Secretory IgA

This makes DGL particularly interesting when the goal is to support more than just one aspect of leaky gut.

Schedule A Free 15 Minute SIBO:IBS:Leaky Gut Consult

The Bottom Line: DGL and Leaky Gut

DGL can be a valuable part of a comprehensive strategy for supporting the intestinal lining, managing inflammatory stress, and maintaining the gut barrier.

Its potential benefits extend beyond simply soothing the digestive tract.

Research involving licorice-derived flavonoids suggests effects involving:

Intestinal epithelial integrity
Tight-junction regulation
Inflammatory signaling
Secretory IgA
Mucosal protection
Intestinal permeability

For this reason, DGL can work particularly well when combined with nutrients that support other components of the intestinal barrier.

This is why formulas such as GlutaShield combine DGL with glutamine, N-acetyl glucosamine, zinc, vitamin A, and aloe vera.

For those looking for a broader strategy, my Leaky Gut Support Pack provides a more comprehensive approach to supporting multiple aspects of intestinal-barrier health.

The larger goal is not simply to “close” a leaky gut.

It is to create an intestinal environment capable of protecting, maintaining, and continually repairing itself.

A complete strategy should address both sides of the equation:

Reduce the factors damaging the intestinal barrier + provide the nutrients the intestinal barrier needs to repair.

Continue Reading the Leaky Gut Series

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