Best Supplements for Stomach Ulcers 2026: Evidence-Based Guide
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Mitchell, MD — Internal Medicine
See also: Best Supplements for Stomach Health 2026: The Complete Guide | Best Supplements for Acid Reflux 2026: GERD Guide
Quick Picks: Best Stomach Ulcer Supplements of 2026
| Rank | Best For | Key Ingredient | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 #1 Overall | Gastric ulcer healing | Zinc Carnosine | ★★★★☆ |
| 🥈 #2 Mucosal Protection | Stomach lining support | DGL Licorice | ★★★★☆ |
| 🥉 #3 H. pylori | Bacterial eradication support | Mastic Gum | ★★★☆☆ |
| #4 Antioxidant | Oxidative stress protection | Vitamin C | ★★★☆☆ |
| #5 Anti-Inflammatory | Stomach inflammation | Chamomile | ★★★☆☆ |
Understanding Stomach Ulcers
Peptic ulcers are open sores that develop on the inner lining of the stomach (gastric ulcers) or upper small intestine (duodenal ulcers). They affect 4 million people annually in the US.
Primary causes:
- Helicobacter pylori infection (70-80% of ulcers)
- Chronic NSAID use (20-30%)
- Excess acid production (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome)
- Stress (contributing factor)
Symptoms: Burning stomach pain, bloating, nausea, heartburn, dark stools
1. Zinc Carnosine — Best Overall
Why: Adheres to ulcerated tissue, delivering zinc directly to damaged areas. Promotes wound healing and has anti-H. pylori activity.
Clinical Evidence:
- Miyoshi et al. (1992): 75mg 2x/day for 8 weeks significantly improved gastric ulcer healing vs. placebo.
- Kashimura et al. (1999): As adjunct to triple therapy, increased H. pylori eradication from 77% to 94%.
- Mahmood et al. (2007): Protected against NSAID-induced gastric damage.
Effective Dose: 75mg 2x/day (before meals)
Onset: 4-8 weeks for ulcer healing
2. DGL Licorice — Best for Mucosal Protection
Why: Deglycyrrhizinated licorice stimulates mucus production, creating a protective barrier over ulcerated tissue.
Clinical Evidence:
- Morgan et al. (2001): DGL improved gastric and duodenal ulcer healing.
- Kolarski et al. (2010): DGL reduced NSAID-induced gastric damage.
Effective Dose: 380-760mg 2x/day (before meals)
Note: Use DGL (deglycyrrhizinated) form to avoid blood pressure elevation from glycyrrhizin.
3. Mastic Gum — Best for H. pylori
Why: Mastic gum (from Pistacia lentiscus) has antibacterial activity against H. pylori.
Clinical Evidence:
- Dabos et al. (2010): Mastic gum inhibited H. pylori growth in vitro.
- Al-Habbal et al. (1984): Mastic gum improved duodenal ulcer symptoms.
Effective Dose: 1-2g/day (divided doses)
4. Vitamin C — Best Antioxidant
Why: Vitamin C protects stomach lining from oxidative damage and may inhibit H. pylori.
Clinical Evidence:
- Zhang et al. (1998): Higher vitamin C levels were associated with lower H. pylori infection rates.
- Feiz & Mobarhan (2002): Vitamin C supplementation reduced gastric inflammation.
Effective Dose: 500-1,000mg/day
5. Chamomile — Best Anti-Inflammatory
Why: Chamomile reduces gastric inflammation and promotes healing.
Clinical Evidence:
- McKay & Blumberg (2006): Chamomile has anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties.
- Srivastava et al. (2010): Chamomile protected against gastric ulcers in animal models.
Effective Dose: 1-3 cups tea/day or 400mg extract 3x/day
The Stomach Ulcer Stack
Before meals: Zinc carnosine 75mg + DGL 380mg Daily: Mastic gum 1g + Vitamin C 500mg + Chamomile tea 2-3 cups
Also important: Treat H. pylori with antibiotics if present, avoid NSAIDs, reduce stress, avoid alcohol and smoking
The Bottom Line
For stomach ulcers: Zinc carnosine (75mg 2x/day) + DGL (380mg 2x/day) + mastic gum (1g/day) + vitamin C (500mg/day). Give it 8-12 weeks. If H. pylori is present, use alongside antibiotic therapy.
Sources: Miyoshi et al. (1992) Jpn Pharmacol Ther; Kashimura et al. (1999) Gut 45(Suppl 3):A103; Mahmood et al. (2007) Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 5(7):844-847; Morgan et al. (2001) Gut 48(4):473-477; Dabos et al. (2010) Phytomedicine 17(3-4):226-231; Zhang et al. (1998) J Infect Dis 177(4):978-981; McKay & Blumberg (2006) Phytother Res 20(7):519-530
Related Articles
Explore more in our Gut Health guide.
- Best Supplements for Stomach Health 2026: The Complete Guide — We compared the best stomach health supplements — zinc carnosine, DGL, mastic gum, probiotics, and melatonin. Evidenc…
- Best Supplements for Acid Reflux 2026: GERD Guide — We compared the best supplements for acid reflux — zinc carnosine, DGL, melatonin, slippery elm, and more. Evidence-b…
- Zinc Carnosine: The Underrated Gut Healing Supplement — Zinc carnosine is one of the most evidence-based supplements for gut healing — gastric ulcers, leaky gut, H. pylori, …