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Monoammonium Glycyrrhizinate: The Licorice Line on the Label
Monoammonium glycyrrhizinate is a salt of glycyrrhizin, the sweet compound in licorice root. Sugar Defender lists it 18th of 22 blend lines, so it holds at most about 11 mg of each 1 mL serving. Glycyrrhizin can affect heartbeat and blood pressure, mainly at large or long-term intakes.
Written by the Sugar Defender label teamUpdated · 4 min read
The compound01
What is monoammonium glycyrrhizinate?
Monoammonium glycyrrhizinate is an ammonium salt of glycyrrhizin, the sweet-tasting compound that comes from licorice root.
Real licorice candy and teas get their flavor from glycyrrhizin. Makers also use the salt as a sweetener and as an ingredient in other products.
The plant has a long history in teas and sweets. Safety guidance focuses on glycyrrhizin because it can change how the body handles salt and potassium when taken in large or long-term amounts.
On the Sugar Defender label it appears by that long name, with no mention of licorice. A reader who scans for "licorice" will miss it. This is one reason we read the label line by line.
Safety03
Can glycyrrhizin affect blood pressure?
Yes, glycyrrhizin can. licorice safety guidance says it can cause serious effects such as an irregular heartbeat, especially with large or long-term use (NCCIH, Licorice Root).
The same source says people with high blood pressure may be at risk even from small amounts. Large amounts of licorice in pregnancy are unsafe, and interactions with corticosteroids have been reported (NCCIH, Licorice Root).
Why does this matter for a small dose? Because sensitivity differs. A person with high blood pressure, or one who takes a water pill, may react to less than a healthy adult would.
Most of that research is about licorice root, candy and teas, not a trace of a salt in a drop. We know of no study of this product. Even so, a blood pressure caution is a good reason to ask first.
Who should ask04
Who should ask a doctor about the licorice line?
Anyone with high blood pressure, a heart rhythm problem or low potassium should ask a doctor or pharmacist before using Sugar Defender.
The label itself says to consult a physician if you are pregnant or nursing, or taking any other medication. That covers blood pressure pills, water pills and steroids.
Blood pressure
Licorice compounds may affect it. Coleus and arginine in the blend can too, in the other direction. See our blood pressure medication post.
Heart rhythm
Glycyrrhizin can cause irregular heartbeat at large intakes. Tell your doctor about every supplement.
Pregnancy
Large licorice amounts are unsafe in pregnancy. The label says to consult a physician first.
Do not stop or change a blood pressure or heart medicine because of a supplement. Ask your doctor first.
Read the rest on the Sugar Defender side effects page.
FAQ05
Monoammonium glycyrrhizinate: quick questions
Is monoammonium glycyrrhizinate the same as licorice?
It is derived from the same sweet compound. Glycyrrhizin is the main sweet substance in licorice root, and this ingredient is its ammonium salt. Licorice root contains many other compounds as well.
Why would a blood sugar drop contain a licorice compound?
The label does not give a reason. Glycyrrhizin is very sweet and is also used as a flavor. Whether it is there for taste or for another purpose, the label does not say.
Does Sugar Defender contain real licorice root?
The label lists only monoammonium glycyrrhizinate, not licorice root. That is a purified salt of one licorice compound, listed 18th in the blend, with no amount printed.
Can this ingredient raise blood pressure in small amounts?
Possibly, in some people. Licorice guidance says people with high blood pressure may be at risk even from small amounts of glycyrrhizin. No study tests this product, so ask your doctor.
Who wrote this06
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and the way we check reviews. This website is run by an authorized American Sugar Defender outlet, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. Purchases made through our order links earn us money.
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