Vegetable glycerin, also known as glycerol or glycerin, is a clear liquid usually made from soybean, coconut, or palm oil.
It is odorless and has a mild, sweet taste with a syrup-like consistency.
Vegetable glycerin is particularly popular in the cosmetic industry, but it also has several other uses. It may also provide health benefits, ranging from skin health to better hydration and a strengthened gut.
This article examines the uses, benefits, and side effects of vegetable glycerin.
Glycerin is a sugar alcohol derived from animal products, plants or petroleum.
Vegetable glycerin is the variant made from vegetable oils. It was discovered accidentally more than two centuries ago by heating a mixture of olive oil and lead monoxide.
But it only became economically and industrially significant in the late 19th century, when it was first used to make dynamite.
Vegetable glycerin is prepared by heating triglyceride-rich vegetable fats – such as palm, soybean and coconut oils – under pressure or in combination with a strong alkali, such as lye.
Glycerin separates from fatty acids and mixes with water to form an odorless, sweet-tasting syrup-like liquid.
Summary Vegetable glycerin is a slightly sweet, syrupy liquid made by heating vegetable fats under pressure or with strong alkali.
Vegetable glycerin is widely used in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
For example, it is often added to foods to help oil and water ingredients blend, soften, or moisten the final product.
It can also be used to prevent ice crystals from forming in frozen foods, such as low-fat frozen yogurt, ice cream and other desserts.
Glycerin is a common ingredient in pharmaceutical medications, including heart medications, suppositories, cough remedies, and anesthetics.
Additionally, you may find vegetable glycerin in toothpaste, as this prevents the toothpaste from drying out or hardening in the tube.
Additionally, it is commonly added to soaps, candles, lotions, air fresheners, and makeup.
Summary Vegetable glycerin has several uses. The most popular are cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food products.
Vegetable glycerin is touted as a product with many health benefits.
However, only a few benefits are supported by science – and related studies tend to be few and modest. Keep in mind that more studies are needed on its health benefits.
The following benefits have the most research behind them.
Can moisturize the skin
Vegetable glycerin is a popular skin care treatment because of its hydrating power.
Research shows that applying glycerin to your skin can gradually improve its smoothness and suppleness. In fact, using creams containing glycerin can increase skin hydration in as little as 10 days (1, 2).
In one study, a glycerin-based cream was more effective than one made with silicone oil or hyaluronic acid at hydrating the skin and preventing moisture loss (3).
In another study, adding glycerin to a warm water bath was found to be more effective in improving skin moisture levels and protecting against skin irritation than a warm water bath. alone (4).
May promote skin health
Vegetable glycerin may improve skin health by helping to relieve skin irritation, protect against infections, and promote wound healing.
Studies show that applying products containing glycerin can protect your skin against irritants and microbes, as well as soothe inflamed or injured skin (5, 6).
Additionally, vegetable glycerin can act as a barrier to protect your skin from the elements, including wind and cold (5).
Another study reports that vegetable glycerin may be more effective than a placebo in reducing tingling sensations in people with eczema. However, it does not appear to have any effect on tingling, itching, dryness, or irritation (7).
May reduce constipation
Vegetable glycerin can provide some relief from constipation.
This is because it can draw water into the intestines. This has a laxative effect, which helps digested food move through your intestine more easily.
For this reason, glycerin is often used as a suppository.
In one study, glycerin suppositories were significantly more effective than other types of laxatives in reducing constipation caused by pain medication (8).
In another case, a glycerin enema was 16,5% more effective in relieving constipation than a liquid soap enema (9).
May boost hydration and athletic performance
Glycerin can also improve hydration, which can improve your athletic performance.
Dehydration can greatly impair athletic performance, especially when sweat loss exceeds 2% of your body weight (10).
A good strategy to avoid dehydration is to drink enough fluids before and during exercise. However, it can be difficult to drink during certain types of physical activity. In such a case, drinking plenty of fluids in advance is key.
The problem with drinking large amounts in a short period of time is that a significant portion of the fluid is usually lost in urine within an hour.
However, in a meta-analysis, adding 2,4 grams of glycerin per pound of body weight (1,1 grams per kg) to water drunk before exercise increased fluid retention by 50% compared to with water alone. Glycerin may also lead to slight improvements in athletic performance (11).
In another study, a glycerin drink was also more effective than water or a sports drink in improving hydration in athletes who lost significant amounts of water through sweating during exercise (12).
Summary Vegetable glycerin can act as a moisturizer, reduce skin irritation, protect against infections, and promote wound healing. It can also help relieve constipation and support hydration and exercise performance. That said, further studies are needed.
Vegetable glycerin is generally considered safe.
That said, you may experience an allergic reaction if vegetable glycerin is applied directly to your skin. So it's best to start with a small amount to see how your skin reacts.
Once ingested, vegetable glycerin can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and excessive thirst in some people (13).
Since glycerin is a form of sugar alcohol that your body cannot fully absorb, excessive consumption – alone or through food – can also lead to gas and diarrhea.
Summary Vegetable glycerin is generally considered safe. However, in some people there is a possibility of allergic reaction, headache, nausea, thirst and upset stomach.
Vegetable glycerin is a clear, odorless, sweet-tasting liquid derived from vegetable fats.
It is added to foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals and can provide health benefits, such as hydrated and resilient skin, relief from constipation, improved hydration and improved physical performance.
If you want to try vegetable glycerin, start with a small amount to see your reaction.