What Is Glycerol? Other Names: Glicerol, Glucerite, Glycerin

What is Glycerol?

This post was written with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine – please read our Disclaimer at the end of this article. Glycerol, also known as glycerin, is a simple polyol compound that is widely used in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food production. It is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is sweet-tasting and non-toxic. Glycerol has a wide range of applications due to its unique chemical properties, including its ability to act as a humectant, solvent, and sweetener. Other names included: 1,2,3-propanetriol, Alcool Glycériné, Glicerol, Glucerite, Glycerin, Glycerine, Glycérine, Glycérine Végétale, Glycerol Monostearate, Glycérol, Glycerolum, Glyceryl Alcohol, Monostéarate de Glycérol, Vegetable Glycerin.

Chemical Structure and Properties

Glycerol is a trihydroxy alcohol with the chemical formula C3H8O3. It has three hydroxyl (OH) groups, which contribute to its solubility in water and its hygroscopic nature. This means that glycerol can attract and hold water molecules, making it an effective moisturizing agent in various formulations8.

Industrial Applications of Glycerol

Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics

In the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, glycerol is commonly used as a humectant, emollient, and lubricant. It helps to maintain moisture in products and on the skin, providing a smooth and soft texture. Glycerol is also used in the formulation of cough syrups, toothpaste, and skin care products due to its soothing and moisturizing properties8.

Food Industry

Glycerol is used as a sweetener, preservative, and thickening agent in the food industry. It is often added to low-fat foods to improve texture and to baked goods to retain moisture. Additionally, glycerol serves as a solvent for food colorings and flavors8.

Biofuels

The expansion of the biofuels industry has increased the availability of glycerol as a byproduct of biodiesel production. This surplus glycerol can be repurposed as an alternative feed ingredient for livestock, such as dairy cows and pigs, due to its high energy content2 6 7.

Medical and Veterinary Uses of Glycerol

Ketosis Management in Dairy Cows

Glycerol has been studied for its potential to alleviate ketosis in dairy cows. Ketosis is a metabolic disorder that occurs when cows have a negative energy balance, leading to the accumulation of ketone bodies. Glycerol can serve as a glucogenic substrate, helping to reduce the symptoms of ketosis and improve lactational performance1 2.

Adjuvant Therapy in Bacterial Meningitis

In medical research, glycerol has been investigated as an adjuvant therapy for bacterial meningitis. However, studies have shown that glycerol does not significantly improve outcomes in adults with bacterial meningitis, particularly in high HIV prevalence settings3.

In Ovo Feeding in Poultry

Glycerol has also been used in in ovo feeding (IOF) to improve the performance of broiler chickens. IOF involves injecting nutrients directly into the egg before hatching. Studies have shown that glycerol can enhance glycogen reserves and improve the growth and feed intake of chicks from young breeders4.

Sports and Exercise

Glycerol as a Masking Agent

Glycerol is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency as a masking agent because it can alter blood parameters and potentially hide the use of other performance-enhancing substances. Studies have shown that glycerol administration can significantly increase urinary glycerol levels and affect blood parameters, making it detectable for several hours post-administration5 10.

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Adverse Effects of Glycerol

Gastrointestinal Issues

Glycerol can cause gastrointestinal adverse events such as nausea, fatigue, headache, gas with discharge, diarrhea, oily spotting, oily evacuation, oily stool, liquid stool, and soft stool. These symptoms are more frequent at higher doses1 4.

Blood Pressure and Blood Glucose

Glycerol ingestion can lead to a transient, non-significant increase in blood pressure and a slight increase in blood glucose levels. These effects are observed in both diabetic patients and healthy individuals1.

Viscosity and Hemodynamics

Glycerol can decrease blood and plasma viscosity, which might affect hemodynamics. This decrease in viscosity was significant in healthy subjects2.

Neurological Effects

In the context of acute stroke treatment, glycerol was associated with hemolysis in a high percentage of patients, although it did not lead to serious adverse effects or increased disability among survivors3 6.

Nutrient Absorption

Glycerol, particularly in the form of esterified propoxylated glycerol (EPG), can act as a lipid “sink” during gastrointestinal transit, leading to lower levels of certain fat-soluble vitamins (e.g., β-carotene, phylloquinone) and higher levels of PIVKA-II, indicating potential interference with nutrient absorption4.

Metabolic Effects in Animals

In animal studies, glycerol supplementation led to decreased dry matter intake (DMI), altered ruminal fermentation, and reduced milk yield and fat percentage in dairy cows. It also affected fatty acid profiles in lambs, reducing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and altering the n-6/n-3 ratio7 8 10.

Body Weight

Glycerol supplementation in both sedentary subjects and athletes was found to have an adverse effect on body weight, potentially due to its metabolic effects9.

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How has Glycerol Improved Patient Outcomes?

Bacterial Meningitis in Children

Oral glycerol therapy significantly reduces severe neurological sequelae in children with bacterial meningitis, making it a useful adjuvant treatment, especially in resource-limited settings1.

Acute Stroke

Intravenous glycerol improves short-term survival rates in elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke, although it does not significantly affect long-term mortality or functional recovery2.

Some studies show no significant difference in long-term outcomes, including mortality and functional recovery, between glycerol and placebo groups in patients with acute cortical infarction and cerebral hemorrhage3 5 7 8 9.

Chronic Bronchitis

Iodinated glycerol improves symptoms such as cough frequency, cough severity, and ease of bringing up sputum in patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis4.

However, other studies indicate that iodinated glycerol does not significantly affect pulmonary function, symptom scores, or sputum properties in patients with stable chronic bronchitis10.

Bacterial Meningitis in Adults

In adults with bacterial meningitis, particularly in high HIV prevalence settings, oral glycerol does not improve mortality or disability outcomes and may even be associated with higher mortality rates6.

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Glycerol Mechanisms of Action

Hyperhydration and Thermoregulation

Glycerol induces hyperhydration by reducing urine volume, which helps in maintaining fluid balance during exercise in hot environments. This results in elevated sweat rates and lower core temperatures during physical activity1.

Energy Substrate and Glycogen Production

Glycerol serves as a substrate for glycogen production, particularly in chicken embryos, enhancing energy availability during the final stages of incubation and hatching. This improves early growth performance in broilers from young breeders2.

Ketosis Management in Dairy Cows

Glycerol acts as a glucogenic substrate, alleviating symptoms of ketosis in dairy cows. It improves lactational performance by influencing blood metabolites and ruminal profiles, although it may increase indicators of ketosis when fed at certain levels3.

Metabolic Role in Glyceride Synthesis and Degradation

Glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, an enzyme involved in glycerol metabolism, plays a significant role in glyceride synthesis and degradation. Its activity is influenced by dietary conditions, suggesting its importance in maintaining the NAD redox state and overall metabolic balance4.

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Common Complaints Associated with Glycerol Use

Adverse Experiences and Dropouts: The study noted that the number of dropouts attributable to adverse experiences was significantly less in the iodinated glycerol group compared to the placebo group, indicating fewer severe complaints leading to discontinuation1.

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Disclaimer

The content presented in this blog is generated by Consensus, an AI-powered academic search engine, and is based on publicly available scientific literature. While every effort is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and well-researched information, the content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medical conditions, treatments, or medications. The AI system’s analysis may not cover all perspectives, emerging research, or individual cases, and it is not a substitute for professional expertise. Neither the blog publisher nor the developers of the AI-powered search engine are responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided in this content. Use of this information is at your own risk. Citations to the original scientific studies are included for reference, but these studies should be reviewed in full and interpreted with the guidance of a healthcare or research professional.

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