Benefits
Heartburn and regurgitation
In a double-blind trial of 200 adults with mild to moderate reflux symptoms (severe cases excluded), 75 mg twice daily after meals for 28 days improved reflux quality-of-life scores versus placebo and eased heartburn from day 14 and regurgitation from day 7. Use of rescue famotidine (an acid reducer) and gastric emptying did not differ. The maker sponsored it, and it has not been repeated.
Indigestion and upper digestive comfort
In a double-blind trial of 50 adults with functional dyspepsia (ongoing indigestion with no structural cause), 75 mg twice daily after food for 30 days lowered total symptom scores, covering fullness, upper abdominal pain, bloating and heartburn, and improved a dyspepsia quality-of-life index versus placebo at days 15 and 30. Most authors worked for the maker.
Stomach lining support
This rests on animal work, not human data. In rats, GutGard reduced stomach lining damage and made gastric fluid less acidic in three injury models, and the authors linked this to its antioxidant activity. The human trials measured symptoms and quality of life, not the stomach lining, and the 200-person trial found no difference from placebo in gastric emptying.
Mechanism of action
Mucosal protection
In rat models of stomach injury, GutGard reduced lining damage and gastric acidity and showed strong antioxidant activity in lab assays; the authors proposed a cytoprotective effect. A rat and cell study by maker scientists also reported support for intestinal barrier tight junctions. Neither effect has been measured in people.
Glycyrrhizin removed
Ordinary licorice root can raise blood pressure and lower potassium because of glycyrrhizin. GutGard caps glycyrrhizin at 3% or less, which should lower that risk, though it is not glycyrrhizin-free. In the 28-day reflux trial, blood electrolytes and other lab values did not differ from placebo. The flavonoids, standardized to at least 10%, are the fraction being studied.
Clinical trials
Phase III, single-centre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. 296 screened, 200 randomized to 75 mg capsules twice daily after meals or placebo for 28 days, follow-up to day 35. Sponsored by Natural Remedies, the maker, which supplied the product. (Raj et al. 2025, Complementary Medicine Research)
200 adults aged 18 to 60 with reflux symptoms for at least 1 month and at least two symptomatic days in the prior week, not using proton pump inhibitors. Severe symptoms and alarm symptoms were excluded, so results apply only to mild to moderate symptoms.
Reflux quality-of-life (GERD-HRQL) scores improved more than with placebo at day 28 (p = 0.014). Heartburn eased earlier (p = 0.017 at day 14, p = 0.005 at day 28), as did regurgitation (significant from day 7), and overall symptom frequency, severity and distress were lower from day 14. Rescue famotidine use and gastric emptying did not differ. Only 82.5% were available at the last follow-up, and planned pH and sphincter tests were dropped because of COVID-19. Adverse events were not more common than on placebo, and lab values including electrolytes did not differ.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at two centres in Bangalore. 54 screened, 50 randomized (25 per group) to 75 mg twice daily after food or placebo for 30 days. Seven of 11 authors worked at Natural Remedies, which also generated the randomization. (Raveendra et al. 2012, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
50 adults aged 18 to 65 diagnosed with functional dyspepsia by Rome III criteria, with at least 4 upper digestive symptoms and a total symptom score of 20 or more; people with a history of reflux or IBS symptoms were excluded.
Total symptom scores and the Nepean Dyspepsia Index quality-of-life score fell significantly more than with placebo at days 15 and 30 (P ≤ .05), and the global efficacy rating favored GutGard. No treatment-related adverse effects were reported. The groups differed in average age at baseline (45 years on placebo vs 38 on GutGard), and the trial was small and maker-linked.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at D2L Pharma Research Centre, Bangalore. 107 enrolled, 100 analyzed per protocol (50 per group) after 7 were excluded for age; 150 mg once daily or placebo for 60 days. Funded by NICS Co., Ltd. (Seoul); three of seven authors worked at Natural Remedies. (Puram et al. 2013, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
Adults aged 18 to 45 who tested positive on both the H. pylori stool antigen test and the 13C-urea breath test. People with reflux, a bleeding ulcer history, or recent antibiotic or acid-reducer use were excluded.
At day 60 the stool antigen test was negative in 56% on GutGard versus 4% on placebo, and the breath test in 48% versus 2%; breath test values also fell more than with placebo. Side effects, mostly mild, did not differ between groups. Tests were not repeated after the supplement stopped, and the result has not been independently replicated.