Quick Facts

Dr. Marty Ross, MD
Dr. Ross's Expert Review
Rhizinate Fructose Free is a chewable deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) product from Integrative Therapeutics. I use DGL in my practice for one main job: supporting the mucous barrier that protects the stomach lining and the upper intestinal tract. This version removes almost all of the glycyrrhizin, the licorice compound that can raise blood pressure in some people. What remains is the mucosal-support fraction of licorice root, paired here with the amino acid glycine.
Most of the people I reach for DGL with are dealing with occasional stomach discomfort after coffee, spicy food, fried food, or medications. Chewing is part of how this product works. Chewed after meals, DGL mixes with saliva and stimulates the natural protective factors in the digestive tract that keep the stomach lining comfortable. I like that it works with the body’s own lining chemistry rather than just neutralizing acid.
The glycine adds a second layer of support. Glycine is an amino acid that supports intestinal cell health and healthy tight junction function in laboratory studies. In my review of the research, glycine rounds out what DGL does for the gut wall.
The fructose-free part is practical. Many DGL chewables are sweetened with fructose or sugar. This one uses sorbitol and mannitol instead, which matters for anyone sensitive to fructose or trying to avoid added sugars. If sweeteners have kept you away from DGL chewables, this version solves that.
The older research trials of DGL in stomach ulcer healing are small and would not meet today’s trial standards. Trials of the licorice extract in this product reported symptom improvements in functional dyspepsia; results in trials do not guarantee the same effect for every user. The evidence for mucosal support is reasonable; the evidence for anything beyond that is limited.
DGL is not a substitute for a physician’s evaluation of ongoing digestive symptoms. Work with your physician when symptoms persist.
How I Use It in My Practice
In my practice I use Rhizinate Fructose Free most for people with occasional stomach discomfort after meals or with medications, especially when they do not tolerate fructose. I recommend two chewable tablets before irritating supplements or medications or before meals and bed up to 4 times a day. My recommendation differs from the manufacturers, so you should discuss it with your physician first. I have people chew thoroughly, since mixing DGL with saliva is part of how it works. I treat it as ongoing lining support rather than a quick fix, and I tell people to give it several weeks before judging it. If someone is pregnant, nursing, or on prescription medications, they should discuss using this supplement with their prescriber. When discomfort persists, I do not keep adding supplements; I look for the cause with the patient.
The Research, in Dr. Ross's Words
The science behind this product rests on two ingredients, and the evidence for each is uneven. The older DGL literature is thin. Three trials from the 1970s, including a double-blind cross-over trial and a retrospective endoscopic survey of 32 patients with chronic duodenal ulcers, reported benefits of DGL for the gastric mucosa. A 1978 study found DGL reduced aspirin-induced gastric mucosal damage in animals and fecal blood loss in human volunteers taking aspirin. These studies are small, some rely on animal work, and none would meet the design standards of a modern trial. However, these trials are consistent with DGL’s traditional mucosal-support use, but are too small to prove benefit.
The modern evidence is stronger. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial from 2011 found the GutGard licorice extract in this product improved functional dyspepsia symptoms, and a 2025 phase III trial reported better and earlier resolution of heartburn and regurgitation compared to placebo. These are the studies I weigh most.
The glycine research is laboratory-based. A 2003 review described glycine’s cytoprotective and immune-modulating properties, and a 2010 study showed glycine protected human intestinal epithelial cells from oxidative damage through the GLYT1 transporter. These laboratory studies provide research support for the mechanism by which glycine could work in humans.
Where does that leave us? The trials agree that licorice extracts support mucosal comfort, and the mechanism is plausible. The older ulcer trials are limited, and the glycine evidence has not yet been shown in humans. Reasonable support, but honest limits about benefits in humans. With this in mind, I do try this product with my patients, but monitor to see if there will be real benefit.
References
Supplement Facts
| Amount Per Serving | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
Calories | 5 | |
Total Carbohydrate | 2 g | |
Total Sugars | 0 g | |
Includes 0 g Added Sugars | ||
Sugar Alcohol | 2 g | |
Glycine | 150 mg | |
Gutgard Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL) (Glycyrrhiza spp.) Root Extract | 75 mg | |
†Daily Value (DV) not established. | ||







