What is deglycyrrhizinated licorice, and does it have the same risks and benefits as regular licorice?

Glycyrrhizin is an active compound found naturally in licorice that is linked to several adverse effects (see this FAQ for details). Deglycyrrhizination is a process through which glycyrrhizin is removed from a licorice supplement, resulting in decglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL).^[1] DGL should theoretically have a reduced risk of glycyrrhizin-related adverse effects. However, glycyrrhizin may be desired in some instances, because it is a bioactive component (see this FAQ for details), and its desirability may depend on the individual and their reason for using it.

DGL is commonly found at supplement and health food stores and would likely be labeled as such; however, it is up to the manufacturer to test and label their products accurately.