Natural licorice possesses both mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid properties.
Extracts of licorice root are widely used in many countries as flavoring agents in candies and breath fresheners. Deranged steroid metabolism from chronic licorice ingestion produces adverse effects including hypertension, water and sodium retention, and hypokalemia with associated weakness and muscle cramps. Most licorice-flavored foods available in the US do not contain GZA and do not produce hypermineralocorticoid syndromes observed with chronic consumption of natural licorice. Ingestion may result in decreased levels of serum testosterone and increased levels of 17-hydroxyprogesterone. This may result in decreased libido or sexual dysfunction.