Evidence supporting the use of: Glycyrrhizinic acid
For the health condition: Adrenal Fatigue

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Glycyrrhizinic acid, derived from licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), has been traditionally used in herbal medicine for a variety of ailments, including as a support for "adrenal fatigue." The concept of adrenal fatigue itself is not recognized as a medical diagnosis by mainstream endocrinology; rather, it is a term used in alternative medicine to describe nonspecific symptoms attributed to supposedly insufficient adrenal hormone production due to chronic stress.

Historically, licorice root was used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and other systems for its purported adaptogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. The rationale for its use in supporting adrenal function is based on glycyrrhizinic acid's ability to inhibit the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2, which leads to increased levels of cortisol by preventing its breakdown. Some early pharmacological studies demonstrate that glycyrrhizinic acid can indeed increase endogenous cortisol levels, which may temporarily mimic adrenal hormone support.

However, robust clinical trials directly evaluating glycyrrhizinic acid for "adrenal fatigue" are lacking, and the use is primarily justified by tradition and extrapolated pharmacological mechanisms. Most scientific evidence pertains to its effects on cortisol metabolism rather than any proven benefit in adrenal insufficiency or fatigue syndromes. Potential side effects, including hypertension and electrolyte imbalances, also limit its use. Thus, the evidence supporting glycyrrhizinic acid for adrenal fatigue is rooted in traditional use and limited mechanistic studies, not validated clinical research.

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