Medicine for chronic atrophic gastritis: a systematic review, meta- and network pharmacology analysis.
The results of a meta-analysis of 12 RCTs indicate that TCM intervention can improve the clinical treatment efficacy of CAG.PubMed 38170849 ↗
Open Source Apothecary At Home / Safety
Liquorice, glycyrrhizin, and the potassium it costs you
A sweet root that acts on the same receptor as aldosterone, and lowers potassium while it raises blood pressure.
safetyLiquorice root and liquorice confectionery contain glycyrrhizin, which is metabolised to glycyrrhetinic acid. Glycyrrhetinic acid inhibits 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, the enzyme that normally inactivates cortisol in the kidney. Cortisol then occupies the mineralocorticoid receptor, and the effect is a pharmacological copy of primary hyperaldosteronism: sodium retention, potassium loss, hypertension, and in severe cases low-potassium muscle weakness and arrhythmia.
Two things make this unusual for a plant:
- The exposure is often food. Liquorice sweets, liquorice tea, and some chewing
- It interacts with potassium-wasting diuretics. A thiazide or loop diuretic already
Practical handling. Deglycyrrhizinated liquorice (DGL) exists for the people who want liquorice's mucosal effects without the mineralocorticoid effect. Anyone with hypertension, heart failure, kidney disease, or on a diuretic or digoxin should be cautious with ordinary liquorice, including confectionery, and should know the potassium number is the thing that matters.
What the studies found
Potassium Intake and Blood Pressure: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Background Epidemiologic studies, including trials, suggest an association between potassium intake and blood pressure (BP).PubMed 32500831 ↗
Fluid-electrolyte homeostasis requires histone deacetylase function.
Histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes regulate transcription through epigenetic modification of chromatin structure, but their specific functions in the kidney remain elusive.PubMed 32673289 ↗
Interaction of herbal products with prescribed medications: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Our studies show that meta-analyses are important in the area of natural products to provide necessary information on their use in overall medication plans in order to avoid unintended interactions.PubMed 30660822 ↗
Cautions and interactions
- Liquorice raises blood pressure and lowers potassium. Avoid with hypertension, heart failure, kidney disease, or any diuretic.
- Digoxin toxicity risk rises when potassium falls.
- Long-term use of real liquorice can be indistinguishable from a hyperaldosteronism syndrome.
When this is not a self-care problem — get help
- Muscle weakness, cramps, palpitations or an irregular pulse alongside frequent liquorice — get potassium and blood pressure checked urgently.
Related
Sources
- Medicine for chronic atrophic gastritis: a systematic review, meta- and network pharmacology analysis. Annals of medicine 2023; doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120752 PubMed 38170849
- Potassium Intake and Blood Pressure: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of the American Heart Association 2020; doi:10.1158/1055-9965 PubMed 32500831
- Fluid-electrolyte homeostasis requires histone deacetylase function. JCI insight 2020; doi:10.1136/eb-2018-102911 PubMed 32673289
- Interaction of herbal products with prescribed medications: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pharmacological research 2019; doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2019.01.028 PubMed 30660822