Supplement
Glucuronolactone is a compound the body makes naturally from glucose, involved in building connective tissue and in clearing substances through the liver, and it is also added to some energy drinks. Research has looked mainly at liver protection, and in rats and chicken liver cells it lowered markers of liver injury and inflammation. The evidence is very limited, though, because these were small animal and lab studies, so what they mean for people remains unknown.
Sources: PMID 30015927; PMID 40362132
- Updated
- How we grade
- 4 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade D
- Conditions studied
- 1
- Outcomes
- 2
- Graded outcomes
- 0002
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
General
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liver Protection In animal models, D-glucuronolactone (75 mg/kg) attenuated thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in rats by reducing AST, inflammation markers (IL-6, NF-κB), and fibrosis markers (α-SMA, COLα1). Separately, glucurolactone showed cytoprotective effects in chicken hepatocytes against ochratoxin A toxicity, and DGL supplementation (70-280 mg/kg diet) improved liver health markers in laying hens. No human clinical trials exist. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 4 studies | |||
Studies that measured liver protection
| ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant Status In rodent and animal models, D-glucuronolactone supplementation increased antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) levels. In thioacetamide-treated rats, 75 mg/kg DGL elevated trolox equivalent antioxidative capacity (TEAC). Similar antioxidant effects were observed in Chinese soft-shelled turtles (reduced MDA) and laying hens. All evidence is preclinical; no human data. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 3 studies | |||
Studies that measured antioxidant status
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Key findings
- Liver ProtectionImproves (the measure goes up)
- Antioxidant StatusImproves (the measure goes up)
Safety notes in the studies
- Separately, glucurolactone showed cytoprotective effects in chicken hepatocytes against ochratoxin A toxicity, and DGL supplementation (70-280 mg/kg diet) improved liver health markers in laying hens.
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Third-party tested Glucuronolactone products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.
- Grade D
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Studies cited
4 studies from PubMed
- D-Glucuronolactone Supplementation Enhances Production Performance, Eggshell Quality, and Liver Health in Laying Hens
- Caffeine, D-glucuronolactone and Taurine Content in Energy Drinks: Exposure and Risk Assessment
- Evaluation of the Neurobehavioural Toxic Effects of Taurine, Glucuronolactone, and Gluconolactone Used in Energy Drinks in Young Rats
- Protective effects of compound ammonium glycyrrhizin, L-arginine, silymarin and glucurolactone against liver damage induced by ochratoxin A in primary chicken hepatocytes