Several side effects have been reported with excessive usage of licorice extracts. These include hypertension, hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis and sodium and water retention, which are symptoms that appear in patients who are suffering from mineralocorticoid excess (Sena, 2011). The work of Farese et al was able to show the exact mechanism of such symptoms as he concluded that the major component, glycyrrhizin, was responsible for inhibiting the enzyme 11β-HSD2, which is involved in converting cortisol into cortisone (Sena, 2011). When an excess of glycyrrhizin from licorice was ingested, a reduction in cortisone levels occurred resulting in an increase in cortisol binding with mineralocorticoid receptors.
This caused the production of symptoms for a condition now known as pseudohyperaldosteronism (Sena, 2011). These adverse effects are only lethal when licorice intake is excessive (such as 280 mg/day of glycyrrhizin in one autopsy report) and for certain individuals who are sensitive to its effects (Sena, 2011). These populations include pediatric patients, patients with estrogen-dependent cancers, pregnant and breast feeding women, and people with underlying heart arrhythmia and hypertension (Sena, 2011). Therefore a daily intake of 0.2mg/kg is recommended (Isbrucker et al, 2006). Licorice has also been demonstrated to interact with many pharmaceutical drugs. The drug prednisolone, a drug used for Addison’s disease, has been shown to have reduced clearance when licorice is present, thus increasing the bioavailability of prednisolone in the body and potentiating its effect (Chen, 2010). Licorice has also been shown to potentiate the vasoconstriction effects of hydrocortisone when used in combination (Chan et al, 2010). Overall, licorice has been reported to interact with over 100 pharmaceutical drugs such as laxatives, corticosteroids, diuretics and anti-hypertensives but none have shown to have deleterious effects (Chan et al, 2010).
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| Inhibitory action of Glycyrrhizic Acid- Sena, 2011 |
This caused the production of symptoms for a condition now known as pseudohyperaldosteronism (Sena, 2011). These adverse effects are only lethal when licorice intake is excessive (such as 280 mg/day of glycyrrhizin in one autopsy report) and for certain individuals who are sensitive to its effects (Sena, 2011). These populations include pediatric patients, patients with estrogen-dependent cancers, pregnant and breast feeding women, and people with underlying heart arrhythmia and hypertension (Sena, 2011). Therefore a daily intake of 0.2mg/kg is recommended (Isbrucker et al, 2006). Licorice has also been demonstrated to interact with many pharmaceutical drugs. The drug prednisolone, a drug used for Addison’s disease, has been shown to have reduced clearance when licorice is present, thus increasing the bioavailability of prednisolone in the body and potentiating its effect (Chen, 2010). Licorice has also been shown to potentiate the vasoconstriction effects of hydrocortisone when used in combination (Chan et al, 2010). Overall, licorice has been reported to interact with over 100 pharmaceutical drugs such as laxatives, corticosteroids, diuretics and anti-hypertensives but none have shown to have deleterious effects (Chan et al, 2010).
Hi Ricky!
ReplyDeleteGreat Blog btw :) Given the many concerns you outlined above, and they do seem serious, has there been a "safe" amount of licorice that has been quanitified, or even a "threshold" one should not cross. That would be interesting to know.
Taha, HMB 434