The benefits and side effects of Vegetable Glycerin

Glycerin, also known as glycerine or glycerol, is a simple triol compound. It is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is sweet-tasting and non-toxic. Due to its ability to attract and hold water, glycerin is a valuable ingredient in a wide range of industrial, food, and personal care applications.

Properties of Glycerin:

• Density: 1.26 g/cm³
• IUPAC ID: propane-1,2,3-triol
• Molar mass: 92.09382 g/mol
• Boiling point: 290 °C
• Melting point: 17.8 °C

Applications of Glycerin:

• Food industry: Glycerin is added to food and drinks as a sweetener, solvent, and humectant. It can enhance the texture, add sweetness, and help keep food wet.
• Cosmetics and personal care products: Moisturizers, lotions, shampoos, and soaps frequently contain glycerin as a component. This humectant contributes to the skin's ability to retain moisture, making it smooth and elastic.
• Pharmaceuticals: A range of pharmaceutical medications contains glycerin, such as eye drops, suppositories, and cough syrups. It acts as a solvent for some drugs and as a lubricant to help keep substances from clinging to one another.
• Industrial applications: Glycerin is employed in the manufacturing of biodiesel, polymers, and explosives, among other industrial uses. It is a solvent for pigments and dyes and is also used to make lubricants and hydraulic fluids.

Side Effects of Vegetable Glycerin

Possible side effects of vegetable glycerin include headaches, nausea, and dizziness when ingested at a concentration over 0.1%. As a form of sugar alcohol, glycerin is not fully absorbed by the body and consuming an excessive amount can lead to diarrhea or gas.

Safety in Humans and Animals

The FDA states vegetable glycerin is safe for human consumption, though it is possible to be allergic to glycerine. Vegetable glycerin is also safely tolerated by animals, including cats, dogs, and other pets, and it can be metabolized and used as an energy source without compromising their health.

Frequently Asked Questions

PHOTOGRAPH BY PASCAL MAITRE

Is vegetable glycerin the same as vegetable glycerol?

There is no chemical difference between vegetable glycerol and vegetable glycerin, and they both refer to the same compound, propane-1,2,3-triol.

Is vegetable glycerin the same as vegetable oil?

No, vegetable oil can be one of the sources of vegetable glycerin and it contains other substances as well as glycerin.

Is vegetable glycerin made of sugar?

Vegetable glycerin is a sugar alcohol and not a sugar. Sugar alcohols do not have the same effect on blood sugar as normal sugar and they have a glycemic index score of zero.

Sources

[1] Cosmetics Info

[2] American Cleaning Institute

[3] U.S. Department of Agriculture

[4] Environmental Working Group

[5] Whole Foods Body Care Quality Standards

[6] Hine, CH, Anderson, HH, Moon, HD, Dunlap, MK, and Morse, MS. “Comparative toxicity of synthetic and natural glycerin.” A.M.A. Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Medicine. 1953;7(4):282-291

[7]Becker LC, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA, Klaassen CD, Liebler DC, Marks JG Jr, Shank RC, Slaga TJ, Snyder PW, Gill LJ, Heldreth B. "Safety Assessment of Glycerin as Used in Cosmetics." Int J Toxicol. 2019 Nov/Dec;38(3_suppl):6S-22S. doi: 10.1177/1091581819883820. PMID: 31840548.