Reach for an antacid and you feel relief in minutes. Take a PPI every morning and your reflux symptoms fade into the background within days. DGL licorice doesn't work like either one — and that's not a shortcoming, it's a completely different mechanism. Understanding the difference matters if you're trying to figure out which approach actually fits what's going on in your gut.
Table of Contents
- Three Different Ways to Deal With Reflux
- How Antacids Work
- How PPIs Work
- How DGL Works
- Speed vs. Support: The Real Tradeoff
- What the Research Shows on DGL and Reflux
- Who Each Approach Actually Fits
- Our Pick
- Frequently Asked Questions
Three Different Ways to Deal With Reflux
Most people lump "reflux remedies" into one category, but antacids, PPIs, and DGL licorice each intervene at a completely different point in the process. Antacids neutralize acid that already exists. PPIs stop the stomach from producing as much acid in the first place. DGL doesn't touch acid production or acid levels at all — it's aimed at the tissue that acid comes into contact with. That distinction is the whole story, and it's worth walking through each one on its own terms before comparing them.
How Antacids Work
Antacids — calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, and similar compounds — are simple acid-base chemistry. They react with stomach acid on contact and neutralize it, raising the pH temporarily. That's why they work so fast: there's no absorption step, no cellular signaling, just a direct chemical reaction happening in the stomach within minutes of swallowing. The tradeoff is that the effect is short-lived, usually an hour or two, and doesn't do anything for the tissue that's already been irritated by acid exposure.
How PPIs Work
Proton pump inhibitors — omeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, and similar drugs — work at a completely different level. They bind to and block the H+/K+-ATPase enzyme, the "proton pump" inside stomach parietal cells that's responsible for the final step of acid secretion. With continuous use, PPIs can suppress gastric acid output substantially, which is why they're the first-line treatment for GERD and peptic ulcer disease. But suppressing acid production long-term isn't free of consequences. Reduced stomach acid affects mineral absorption — long-term PPI use has been linked to lower magnesium levels and reduced B12 and iron absorption. Stopping a PPI abruptly after extended use can also trigger rebound acid hypersecretion, where the stomach temporarily overproduces acid to compensate, which can make symptoms feel worse than before treatment started.
How DGL Works
Deglycyrrhizinated licorice takes a third path entirely. It doesn't neutralize acid and it doesn't suppress how much the stomach produces. Instead, the flavonoid compounds left behind after the glycyrrhizin is removed are thought to increase mucus production along the gastric and esophageal lining, support blood flow to irritated tissue, and extend the lifespan of the cells that make up that lining. The goal isn't to change the acid environment — it's to make the tissue exposed to that environment more resilient. That's a fundamentally different job than either an antacid or a PPI is doing.
Speed vs. Support: The Real Tradeoff
This is where the comparison gets practical. Antacids and PPIs both change the chemistry of the stomach — one temporarily, one for as long as you're taking it — and that's why they can produce fast, dramatic symptom relief. DGL changes nothing about acid levels, so it was never going to compete on speed. What it offers instead is a mechanism that supports the mucosal barrier itself, with effects that build over one to two weeks of consistent use rather than appearing on day one. Neither approach is objectively "better" — they're solving different parts of the problem, and for some people, they're not mutually exclusive at all.
What the Research Shows on DGL and Reflux
DGL's research history started with peptic ulcers, but more recent trials have looked specifically at reflux symptoms. A 2025 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III trial published in Complementary Medicine Research tested GutGard, a standardized DGL extract, in 200 participants with gastroesophageal reflux-related symptoms over a 28-day period. The GutGard group reported significantly better quality-of-life scores and earlier resolution of symptoms — including heartburn — compared to placebo. This built on earlier placebo-controlled research on the same extract showing meaningful improvement in functional dyspepsia symptom scores after 30 days, a condition that overlaps considerably with reflux in presentation. Neither trial found DGL to be a fast-acting substitute for acid-suppressing medication — the improvements accumulated over the study period rather than appearing immediately, consistent with a tissue-support mechanism rather than an acid-blocking one.
Who Each Approach Actually Fits
Antacids make the most sense for occasional, situational reflux — the post-meal flare-up you want gone in ten minutes. PPIs are appropriate for diagnosed GERD under medical supervision, where consistent acid suppression is the clinical goal. DGL fits a different use case: people managing mild or intermittent reflux who want a daily, non-suppressive option, or people who want to support their gut lining alongside a treatment plan they're already on. It's not a replacement for medical care, and anyone with frequent, severe, or worsening reflux symptoms should be evaluated by a doctor before choosing a self-directed approach.
Our Pick
If the tissue-support approach makes sense for your situation, VitaProtect Daily combines GutGard® DGL licorice with slippery elm and marshmallow root in a chocolate chewable taken before meals — the chewing itself stimulates saliva flow, giving the botanicals direct contact with the esophagus and stomach lining ahead of digestion. It's not designed to replace acid-suppressing medication, but as a daily mucosal-support habit, it targets the mechanism DGL research has focused on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between DGL and an antacid?
Antacids neutralize acid that's already present, on contact, for temporary relief. DGL doesn't change your stomach's acid levels at all — it's thought to support the mucus layer and blood flow to the gut lining so the tissue is better protected from the acid exposure that's already happening.
Does DGL work as fast as an antacid?
No. Antacids can relieve symptoms within minutes. DGL builds its effect over days to weeks of consistent use, since it's supporting tissue rather than neutralizing acid on contact.
How is DGL different from a PPI like omeprazole?
PPIs block the stomach's acid-producing pumps at the cellular level, which can suppress acid production by more than 90% with continuous use. DGL doesn't suppress acid production — it's used to support the gut lining's own defenses instead of altering how much acid the stomach makes.
Is there research on DGL specifically for reflux?
Yes. A 2025 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in Complementary Medicine Research tested GutGard, a standardized DGL extract, in 200 participants with GER-related symptoms over 28 days and found significantly better quality-of-life scores and earlier symptom resolution, including heartburn, compared to placebo.
What are the downsides of long-term PPI use?
Long-term PPI use has been associated with lower magnesium absorption, reduced B12 and iron absorption, and rebound acid hypersecretion when the medication is stopped, meaning the stomach can temporarily overproduce acid after suppression ends. These are established risks worth discussing with a doctor, not reasons to stop medication on your own.
Can I take DGL alongside my antacid or PPI?
Many people use DGL alongside acid-suppressing medication, since the two work through different mechanisms. Always confirm with your doctor before combining any supplement with a prescription, especially if you're on blood pressure medication or have kidney concerns.
Who should consider DGL over an antacid?
People with mild, occasional reflux who want a daily, non-suppressive option, or people looking to support their gut lining alongside existing treatment, are the most common fit. DGL isn't a replacement for medically managed GERD, and anyone with frequent or severe symptoms should be evaluated by a doctor.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Daniel Gigante, Founder, Janna Health & Wellness — a family-owned, New Jersey-based supplement company focused on gut and digestive health.
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