Glycyrrhizin intake higher than the current international guidelines has no detectable hypermineralocorticoid-like effect in dogs

Abstract

Glycyrrhizin-enriched extracts from licorice root are associated with numerous health benefits and are widely used in phytotherapy. There is evidence that ingesting glycyrrhizin beyond threshold concentrations can impact the metabolism of cortisol, inhibiting its conversion to an inactive form, cortisone, via 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. A consequence can be a form of hypermineralocorticoidism, with elevated potassium excretion and associated hypertension, as demonstrated in rats and humans. Here, 3 orally dosed concentrations of glycyrrhizin (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg/kg bodyweight/day) were assessed over 28 days in dogs. As the current guidelines reflect a lack of reliable data in this species, our aim was to provide relevant information for doses above the current guidelines. The specific purpose of this study was to demonstrate that an intake of licorice with a known therapeutic benefit to dogs does not cause hypermineralocorticoidism in this species. No changes in blood pressure, nor electrolyte excretion were observed in the dogs given these three glycyrrhizin concentrations.