EFFECTS OF PROLONGED INGESTION OF GRADED DOSES OF LICORICE BY HEALTHY-VOLUNTEERS

Licorice can induce a hypermineralocorticoid syndrome. Current literat ure usually refers to the effects of sweets containing glycyrrhizin, b ut little is known about the consequences of a prolonged intake of ''p ure licorice''. We administered graded daily doses of dried, aqueous e xtract of licorice root, containing 108, 217, 380 and 814 mg of glycyr rhizin, to 4 groups of 6 healthy volunteers of both sexes for 4 weeks. No significant effects occurred in groups 1 and 2. After 2 weeks, sid e effects leading to withdrawal from the protocol occurred in a female in group 3 (headache), a male with a family history of hypertension i n group 4 (arterial hypertension), and a female also taking oral contr aceptives in group 4 (hypertension, hypokalaemia and peripheral edema) . In group 4, transient reduction in kalaemia and increase in body wei ght were found after 1 and 2 weeks, respectively. A depression of plas ma renin activity occurred in groups 3 and 4. In healthy subjects, onl y the highest doses of licorice led to untoward effects. These were fa voured by subclinical disease or oral contraceptives, and were less co mmon and pronounced than what has been reported after the intake of gl ycyrrhizin taken as such or as a flavouring agent in confectionery pro ducts.