title: Laxative treatment with polyethylene glycol does not affect lipid absorption in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a frequently used laxative agent. It is unknown, however, whether PEG affects the absorptive capacity of the intestine. Reduced lipid (dietary fat and cholesterol) absorption induced by long-term PEG treatment could negatively affect growth in children. We tested whether PEG accelerates gastrointestinal transit and alters lipid absorption and plasma lipid levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats were administered drinking water with or without PEG (7%) for 2 weeks. We studied whole gut transit time by recording the first appearance of red feces after intragastric carmine red administration. We measured plasma concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides, dietary fat absorption by 48-hour fat balance and by plasma appearance of intragastrically administered stable-isotope labeled fats, and cholesterol absorption with a dual stable isotope technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PEG decreased whole gut transit time by 20% (P=0.028) without causing diarrhea. PEG treatment did neither affects overall dietary fat balance nor fat uptake kinetics, cholesterol absorption, or plasma lipid concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PEG does not affect lipid absorption nor steady-state plasma lipid levels in rats, although it accelerates the gastrointestinal transit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mariëtte Y M
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: van der Wulp
authors.forename: Frans J C
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Cuperus
authors.forename: Frans
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stellaard
authors.forename: Theo H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.forename: Edmond H H M
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Rings
authors.forename: Albert K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Groen
authors.forename: Henkjan J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Verkade
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D054368:Laxatives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D004041:Dietary Fats; D054368:Laxatives; D008055:Lipids; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols